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Song score
Rhythm 10.0
Melody 10.0
Instruments 9.0
Lyrics 9.7
Vocal 9.7
This song has been reviewed 6 times. Overall score for this song, 9.7.
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Harry Chapin - Cats In The Cradle Lyrics

Song details
TitleCats In The Cradle
ArtistHarry Chapin
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Genre
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Referring urlstop 10

Song lyrics
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 talking 'fore I knew 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 in the moon.
When you coming home, dad?
I don't know when,
But 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
Can you teach me to throw?
I said, not today I got a lot to do
He said, that's ok
And then he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And he 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 coming home, dad?
I don't know when 
But we'll get together then
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 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?

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
When you coming home, son?
I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then.

Well 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 kid's got the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad
It's been sure nice talking 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

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
When you coming home, son
I don't know when
But we'll get together then, dad
We're gonna' have a good time then
lyrics submitted by Liz
lyrics corrected by Josh M. on 27-10-2007




Showing reactions 1-9 of 9Page 1 of 1

Song reviews
15-01-2005 04:19dory_texas2 is offline dory_texas2 

33 posts
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I'm not exactly sure what the title means, but I know cats in the cradle is an old childs game...maybe their relating it to the child? I'm not sure. But I really love the song!
15-01-2005 04:21AlienationEd is offline AlienationEd 

9,757 posts
symbols?? What symbols?

The song, aint it just a like, about the boy growing up? And how cats in the cradle with the silver spoon... like as in the nursery rhymes and stuff?

GNR DID IT BETTER.

CAT STEVENS WAS BETTER.

27-12-2005 06:49Crow76308 is offline Crow76308 

14 posts
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There are no symbols, it is all exerpts from nursery rhymes, childhood games, and cradle songs. "The cat's in the cradle" refers to the game of Cat's Cradle," a game played with a loop of string, the silver spoon is what you say a baby is born with if he is rich, or possibly the spoon that ran away with a dish in the old nursery rhyme, etc., etc. Sorry, but it is all just exerpts from childhood sayings, fables, stories and the like. Any symbolism would be maybe about the childhood he (the father) missed out on in missing his child grow up.
03-04-2006 01:50rebel61389 is offline rebel61389 

119 posts
great song the cat stevens original was the best.
28-09-2006 01:37danika14 is offline danika14 

21 posts
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sorry rebel61389 but i think harry chapin's is the original. the majority of people make the same mistake in thinking that cat stevens sang the original.

the song is through the eyes of a father, who was almost non-existant in his son's life, as he was always away, and not there to see him grow up. in spite of this, his son still looked up to him, hence the son turned out "just like him". therefore, the reference to the different childhood nursery rhymes and games are symbolic of what the father and son's relationship missed out on.

but, its all subjective.
16-10-2006 15:39Chris_7 is offline Chris_7 

23 posts
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[offtopic]I also find the Cats Stevens virsion better.
[topic=] This song can be so true sometimes, sometimes parents dont have time for you, but when you leave the house they realise that they really miss you.
30-12-2006 05:49LudMan is offline LudMan 

1,092 posts
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SOWING AND REAPING.(see"Watching You"also)

ONE SUNDAY MY PASTOR BROKE IT DOWN LIKE THIS ...

SOW ...
A THOUGHT,
REAP A WORD.
SOW A WORD,
REAP AN ACTION.
SOW AN ACTION,
REAP A HABIT.
SOW A HABIT,
REAP A CHARACTER.
SOW A CHARACTER,
REAP... A DESTINY.
30-12-2006 05:54LudMan is offline LudMan 

1,092 posts
PS - "You are what you eat(THE THOUGHTS & ATTITUDES YOU "TAKE IN")".
08-11-2007 23:42redeemer480 is offline redeemer480 

5 posts
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Great song. Too bad to say that Cat Stevens never did this song, though.


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