Pop Song 454 of 500 'Cat's in the Cradle' Harry Chapin 1973

Pop Song 454 of 500 'Cat's in the Cradle' Harry Chapin 1973

"Cat's in the Cradle" is narrated by a man who becomes a father in the first verse. He is repeatedly too busy with his work to spend time with his son, despite his son looking up to him and promising he will grow up to be just like him. When the son graduates from college, he declines his father's offer to relax with him and instead asks for the car keys. In the final verse, the now-retired father calls his adult son and asks to spend some time together, but the son is now too busy with his own work and family, to spend time with his dad, and the father realizes his son has indeed grown up to be just like him.

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"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in 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"
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, c'mon 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, 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"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in 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"