Cats In The Cradle

Album

America’s Least Wanted

Label

Mercury Records

Genre

Alternative rock

Duration

2:00

Composer(s)

Harry Chapin;Sandra Chapin

Entered Chart

Feb 13, 1993

Peak Date

Apr 10, 1993

Released

Unknown

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Stardog 864888

B-Side

(3 album snippets) / Panhandlin' Prince

“Cats in the Cradle” was the fifth single from “America’s Least Wanted”, released in 1993, March 25. The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, the second single to hit the top ten. It also earned a gold certification from RIAA. It’s a cover of a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin. There’s also an acoustic version, which appeared on Ugly Kid Joe’s “Stairway To Hell” album.

[Verse 1]
My child arrived just the other day
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
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 cats 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"


[Verse 2]
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]
And the cats 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"

[Verse 3]
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]
And the cats 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"
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[Verse 4]
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

[Chorus]
And the cats 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"
And the cats 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"