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My child arrived just the other day;
Came to the world in the usually way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.
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."
[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, I don't know when.
We'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."
Well, my son turned ten just the other day.
He said , "Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come on, let's play.
Could you teach me to throw ?" I said, "Not today.
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's okay."
And he walked away and he smiled and he said,
"You know,
I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."
[Chorus]
Well, he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"I'm proud of you. Could 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]
I've long since retired, my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
"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 have the flu,
But it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad.
It's been sure nice talkin' 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.
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Chorus]
Came to the world in the usually way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.
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."
[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, I don't know when.
We'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."
Well, my son turned ten just the other day.
He said , "Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come on, let's play.
Could you teach me to throw ?" I said, "Not today.
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's okay."
And he walked away and he smiled and he said,
"You know,
I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."
[Chorus]
Well, he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"I'm proud of you. Could 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]
I've long since retired, my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
"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 have the flu,
But it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad.
It's been sure nice talkin' 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.
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21
Track duration: 04:01
"Cat's in the Cradle" as written by Harry F. Chapin, Sandy Chapin
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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):
And, just to clarify a few rumours, the original was Harry Chapman, this is the only cover that anyone has heard of, and it was never done by GnR.
It is purely about a father not having spent his time with his son, and his son loving him, and wanting to be just like his dad - which came true, as the dad realised far too late. In all the worst ways.
The chorus is just images of childhood, just about growing up normally. The final verse "The kids have flu" is not an indication that he is spending more time with them, it is just an excuse not to spend time with his dad - "new job's a hassle" too. It is excuses for not spending time with people you should.
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.
I don't think that thought occoured to him and was plesant. I'm pretty sure he just realized that he should have spent more time with him and taught him "family first"
I agree with DownIsTheNewUp. I originally took the chorus to be symbolic of childhood. It shows that the father missed his son's childhood- the games, the nursery rhymes etc.
The end of the song shows the father wanting to get back in touch with his son to make up for lost time, I suppose, but alas, he finds his boy grw up just like him and cannot seem to find the time.