Cat's In The Cradle

by Harry Chapin


My child arrived just the other day,

Came into the world in the usual way,

But there were planes to catch, bills to pay,

He learned to walk while I was away.

He was talking before I knew it,

And as he grew, he said,

"I'm going to be like you, Dad,

you know I'm gonna be like you."

    And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon,

    Little boy blue and the man on the moon, "When you coming home, I don't know when,

    We'll get together then, Son,

    You know we'll have a good time then."

Son turned ten just the other day,

He said, "Thanks for the ball Dad come on lets play,

Can you teach me to throw?"

I said, "Not today, I've got a lot to do."

He said, "Thats OK" and he walked away

smiling ever bit that said,

"I'm going to be like him, yea,

you know I'm gonna be like him."

    And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon,

    Little boy blue and the man on the moon,

    "When you coming home, I don't know when,

    We'll get together then, son,

    You know we'll have a good time then."

Came home from college just the other day,

So much like a man that I had to say,

"Son I'm proud of you, will you sit for a while?"

He shook his head and he said with a smile,

"What I really want Dad is to borrow the car keys,

See you later, can I have them please?"

    And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon,

    Little boy blue and the man on the moon,

    "When you coming home, I don't know when,

    We'll get together then, Dad,

    You know we'll have a good time then."

I have long since retired, now our 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 could find the time.

You see my new job's a hassle, and the kids got the flu,

But it's sure nice talking to you Dad,

I'ts sure nice talking to you."

As I hung up the phone it occurred to me,

My boy was just like me, he'd grown up just like me.

    And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon,

    Little boy blue and the man on the moon,

    "When you coming home, I don't know when,

    We'll get together then, Son,

    You know we'll have a good time then."

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