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5 months ago
Lyrics of Cats In the Cradle by Harry Chapin
verse
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin′ 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He′d say, "I'm gonna be like you, Dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"
chorus
And the cat′s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin′ home, Dad
I don't know when, but we′ll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then
verse
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on, let′s play
Can you teach me to throw," I said, "It's not today
I got a lot to do," he said, "That′s ok"
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"
chorus
And the cat′s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin′ home, Dad (oh)
I don't know when, but we′ll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then
verse
Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man, I just had to say
"Son, I′m proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and he said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them, please?
chorus
And the cat′s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, son
And I don't know when, but we′ll get together then, Dad
You know we′ll have a good time then
verse
I've long since retired, my son′s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don′t mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see, my new job′s a hassle and the kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He′d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
chorus
And the cat′s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
When you comin' home, son
I don′t know when, but we'll get together then, Dad
We′re gonna have a good time then
Writer(s): Harry F. Chapin, Sandy Chapin
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Meaning
The song 'Cats In the Cradle' by Harry Chapin tells a story about a parent who is too busy to spend time with their child, leading to the child growing up to mirror the parent's behavior. The lyrics highlight the cycle of life where the roles reverse, emphasizing the importance of spending quality time with loved ones before it's too late.
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Themes
Father-son relationship
• He'd say, 'I'm gonna be like you, Dad'
• You know I'm gonna be like him
• He'd grown up just like me
Regret and missed opportunities
• I got a lot to do
• It's been sure nice talking to you
• I don't know when, but we'll get together then
The passage of time
• My son turned ten just the other day
• I've long since retired, my son's moved away
• He came to the world in the usual way
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Moods
Nostalgia, love, reflection, heartbreak, hope
Rating: G
Lyrics are child-friendly and safe for all!
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Credits
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Contributions
Last edit 5 months ago
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Cats In the Cradle
Album • 2021 • 28 tracks
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