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Cat's In The Cradle (Harry Chapin)

E                      G               (original key: capo 1)
My child arrived just the other day;
   D                          A
he came into the world in the usual way.
               E                    G
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
D                            A
  He learned to walk while I was away.
           D               G/F#          Em7         Em/D
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it.  And as he grew      he'd say,
         C         Em/B    A              C              Em/B    A
"I'm gonna be like you, Dad.  You know I'm gonna be like you."

Chorus:
        E                           D
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
G                       A
little boy blue and the man in the moon.
 E                              D
"When you comin' home Dad?"  "I don't know when, but
G           Em/B       A           G                 Em/B      A
we'll get together then, Son.  You know we'll have a good time then."

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 okay."
And he   walked away, but his smile never dimmed. It said,
"I'm gonna be like him, yeah.  You know I'm gonna be like him."
 - Repeat Chorus -
Well, he came home 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?"
 - Repeat Chorus -
     A                      C
I've long since retired, my son's moved away.
D                          A
  I called him up just the other day.
             A                  C
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
              D                        A
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time.
            G           G/F#           Em7            Em/D
You see, my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu,
         C         Em/B       A                    C         Em/B       A
but it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad.  It's been sure nice talkin' to you."
         G           G/F#     Em7         Em/D
And as I hung up the phone it occured to me,
     C        Em/B      A(no 3rd) C       Em/B      A
he'd grown up just like me.    My boy was just like me.
 - Repeat Chorus -
Cat's In The Cradle (Harry Chapin)
Key: A
E G (original key: Capo 1)

My child arrived just the other day;
   D                          A

he came into the world in the usual way.
               E                    G

But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
D                            A

  He learned to walk while I was away.
           D               G/F#          Em7         Em/D

And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it.  And as he grew      he'd say,
         C         Em/B    A              C              Em/B    A

"I'm gonna be like you, Dad.  You know I'm gonna be like you."

Chorus:

        E                           D

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
G                       A

little boy blue and the man in the moon.
 E                              D

"When you comin' home Dad?"  "I don't know when, but
G           Em/B       A           G                 Em/B      A

we'll get together then, Son.  You know we'll have a good time then."

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 okay."
And he   walked away, but his smile never dimmed. It said,
"I'm gonna be like him, yeah.  You know I'm gonna be like him."
 - Repeat Chorus -

Well, he came home 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?"
 - Repeat Chorus -

     A                      C

I've long since retired, my son's moved away.
D                          A

  I called him up just the other day.
             A                  C

I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
              D                        A

He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time.
            G           G/F#           Em7            Em/D

You see, my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu,
         C         Em/B       A                    C         Em/B       A

but it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad.  It's been sure nice talkin' to you."
         G           G/F#     Em7         Em/D

And as I hung up the phone it occured to me,
     C        Em/B      A(no 3rd) C       Em/B      A
he'd grown up just like me.    My boy was just like me.
 - Repeat Chorus -


Cat's In The Cradle (Harry Chapin)
My child arrived just the other day;
he came into 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 talkin' 'fore I knew it. And as he grew he'd say,
"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 in the moon.
"When you comin' home Dad?" "I don't know when, but
we'll get together then, Son. You know we'll have a good time then."

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 okay."
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed. It said,
"I'm gonna be like him, yeah. You know I'm gonna be like him."
- Repeat Chorus -
Well, he came home 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.
- Repeat Chorus -
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 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 occured to me,
C Em/B A(no 3rd) C Em/B A
he'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.
- Repeat Chorus -