Lyrics Cat's In The Cradle - Live Version - Harry Chapin

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 it, and as he grew, he'd say
"I′m gonna be like you, dad. You know, I'm gonna be like you."
And the cats in the cradle, and the silver spoon.
Little boy blue and the man on 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."
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 then, he walked away, but his smile never dimmed
'N said, "I′m gonna be like him, yeah.
You know, I'm gonna be like him."
And the cats in the cradle, and the silver spoon.
Little boy blue and the man on 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 cats in the cradle, and the silver spoon.
Little boy blue and the man on 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."
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 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 cats in the cradle, and the silver spoon.
Little boy blue and the man on 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."