CATS IN THE CRADLE

Harry Chapin

A 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 said: "I'm gonna be like you, dad.
You know I'm gonna be like you."

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 have a good time then, son.
You know we'll have a good time then.

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 "Not today
I got a lot to do." He said "That's okay."

And he walked away but his smile never dimmed.
It said "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like you."

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 have a good time then, son.
You know we'll have a good time then.

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 we sit for a while?
He shook his head, and said, with a smile:

"What I'd really like, dad,
is to borrow the car keys.
See ya later, can I have them please?"

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, I don't know when
But we'll have a good time then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then.

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 could find the time.

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

But it's been sure nice talkin' to you, yeah.
Sure nice talkin' to you."

And as I hung up the phone it occured to me
He'd grown up just like me, yeah.
My boy was just like me.

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, I don't know when
But we'll have a good time then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then.

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, I don't know when
But we'll have a good time then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then.

A 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 takin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew, he said:
I'm gonna be like you, dad,
You know I'm gonna be like you

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 have a good time then, son
You know we'll have a good time then.

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 "Not today
I got a lot to do." He said "That's okay."

And he walked away but his smile never dimmed.
It said "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him."

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 we sit for a while?
He shook his head, and said, with a smile

"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See ya later, can I have them please?"

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, I don't know when
But we'll have a good time then, dad
You know we'll have a good time then.

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 could find the time.

You see my new job's a hassle and the kids got the flu
But it's been sure nice talkin' to you, yeah
Sure nice talkin' to you.

And as I hung up the phone it occured to me,
He'd grown up just like me, yeah.
My boy was just like me.

*CHORUS 2*

Lyrics entered by Raphael Pungin
br326@cleveland.freenet.edu

Soft Karaoke
Words
Melody
backs 1
backs 2
kick
snare
cl hihat
crash
low tom
rimshot
bass
ac guit
el guit
d guitar

CATS IN THE CRADLE
Verse 1
Chorus 1
Verse 2
Chorus 1
Verse 3
Chorus 2
Verse 4
Chorus 2
Chorus 2