“Cat’s in the Cradle” is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album Verities & Balderdash. The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1974. As Chapin’s only #1 hit song, it became the best known of his work and a staple for folk rock music.

The lyrics to the verses of the song were originally written as a poem by Chapin’s wife, Sandy Chapin, who is credited as the song’s co-writer.^[1] The poem itself was inspired by the awkward relationship between Sandy Chapin’s first husband, James Cashmore, and his father, a New York City politician. She was also inspired by a country song she heard on the radio. More than a year later, after the birth of his own son, Harry added the music and the chorus. Label executive David Geffen selected the song as a single, over Chapin’s objections. (Wikipedia)

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Cats in the Cradle

My [E]child arrived just the [G]other day; he [A]came to the world in the [E]usually way. but there were [E]planes to catch and [G]bills to pay. [A] __ He learned to walk while I [E]was away. He was [D]talking ‘fore I [A]knew it. And [Bm]as he grew he said, [G]I’m gonna [Bm]be like [E]you, Dad. [G]You know I’m gonna [Bm]be like [E]you.

(And the [E]cat’s in the cradle and the [D]silver spoon, [G]Little boy blue and the [A]man in the moon. [E]When you coming home? dad, I [D]don’t know when. [G]We’ll get to[Bm]gether then [E]. You [G]know we’ll have a [Bm]good time [E]then. )

My [E]son turned ten just the [G]other day. He said, [A]Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come [E]on, let’s play. Can you [E]teach me to throw? I said, [G]Not today. I got a [A]lot to do. He said, [E]That’s okay. And he [D]_walked a[A]way but he [Bm]smiled to another kid he said, [G]_I’m gonna

[Bm]be like [E]him, yeah. [G]You know I’m gonna [Bm]be like [E]him.

Well, he [E]came from college just the [G]other day, So [A]much like a man I just [E]had to say, Son I’m [E]proud of you. Can you [G]sit for a while? He [A]shook his head and he [E]said with a smile, What I’d [D]really like, [A]Dad, is to [Bm]borrow the car keys. [G]_See you [Bm]later. Can I [E]have them please?

I’ve [E]long since retired, my [G]son’s moved away. [A]_I called him up just the [E]other day. [E]I said I’d [E]like to see you, if you [G]don’t mind. He said, I’d [A]love to, Dad, if I can [E]find the time.[E] You see my [D]new job’s a [A]hassle and the [Bm]kids have the flu, But it’s [G]sure nice [Bm]talking to [E]you, Dad. It’s been [G]sure nice [Bm]talking to [E]you.

And as I [D]hung up the [A]phone it o[Bm]ccurred to me, He’d [G]grown up [Bm]just like [E]me. My [G]boy was [Bm]just like [E]me