CAT'S IN THE CRADLE (Harry Chapin)

 
     B                   D
A child arrived just the other day
    A                       B
He came to the world in the usual way
                B                    D
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
A                             B
  He learned to walk while I was away, and he was
 A                            D
Talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew, he said:
 D        A        B
I'm gonna be like you, dad,
      D            A       B
You know I'm gonna be like you


         B                            A
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
 D                       E
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
 B                             A
When you comin' home, dad, I don't know when
      D           A         B
But we'll have a good time then, son
     D                 A         B
You know we'll have a good time then.


    B                      D
My son turned ten just the other day, he said
   A                            B
Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play
         B                         D
Can you teach me to throw, I said not today,
         A                   B
I got a lot to do, he said that's okay
        A                        D
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed, it said
D         A        B
I'm gonna be like him, yeah
     D              A       B
You know I'm gonna be like him.



CHORUS 


         B                         D
Well he came from college just the other day
     A                     B
So much like a man I just had to say
          B                   D
Son I'm proud of you, can we sit for a while?
     A                        B
He shook his head, and said, with a smile
           A                      D
What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
D         A            B
  See ya later, can I have them please?


         B                            A
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
 D                       E
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
  B                            A     
When you comin' home, son, I don't know when
      D            A         B  
But we'll have a good time then, dad
     D                  A        B   
You know we'll have a good time then.


       B                           D
I've long since retired, my son's moved away
   A                     B
I called him up just the other day.
             B                   D
I said, I'd like to see you, if you don't mind, he said
     A                        B
I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
            A                          D
You see my new job's a hassle and the kids got the flu
               D         A          B 
But it's been sure nice talkin' to you, yeah
 D         A          B
Sure nice talkin' to you.


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