Cats in the cradle (Harry Chapin)
E G A E
My child arrived just the other day, he came to the world in the usual way.
E G A E
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay, he learned to walk while I was away.
D A h A
And he was talking 'for I kew it and as he grew,
G h E G h E
He said: "I'm gonna be like you, dad, you know, I'm gonna be like you.
E D
And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon,
G A
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
E D
"When you comin' home, dad?" - "I don't know when,
G h E G h E
But we'll get together then, you know we'll have a good time then."
E G A E
My son turned ten just the other day, he said "thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.
G A E
Can you teach me to throw?", I said "not today, I got a lot to do", he said "that's o.k."
D A h A
He walked away but his smile never dimmed,
G h E G h E
It said, I'm gonna be like him, yeah, you know, I'm gonna be like him.
E G A E
Well he came from college just the other day, so much like a man, I just had to say.
G A E
"Son I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?" He shook his head and he said with a smile,
D A h A
"What I'd really like dad is to borrow the car keys,
G h E
See you later, can I have them please?"
E G A E
I've long since retired, my son's moved away, I called him up just the other day.
G A E
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.
D A h A
You see my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu.
G h E G h E
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad. It's sure nice talkin' to you".
D A h A G h E
And as I hung up the phone it occured to me, he'd grown up just like me.
G h E
My boy was just like me.
E D G A
And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon, little boy blue and the man on the moon.
E D
"When you comin' home, son?" - "I don't know when,
G h E G h E
But we'll get together then, dad, we're gonna have a good time then."