Cat's in the Cradle — Harry Chapin
Chords and lyrics for Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin (key of F).
Intro
[F] [Cm] [F]
Verse 1
A child arrived just [G#/C]the other day, he [A#]came to the world in [F]the usual way, but there were
planes to catch and [G#/C]bills to pay.
[A#]He learned to walk while [F]I was away, and he [D#]was talking for I knew it, [Cm]and as he grew,
[D#/A#]he'd say, [G#]I'm gonna [Cm/G]be like [F]you, dad, [G#]you know I'm gonna [Cm/G]be like [F]you.
Chorus
And the cats and the cradles and [D#]the silks, oh, [G#]little boy blue and the [A#]man and the moat,
[F]when you're coming home, dad, [D#]I don't know when, [G#]but we'll get [Cm]together then, [F][G#]you know
we'll have [Gm]a good time [F]then.
Verse 2
My son turned 10 just the other day, [Cm]he said [A#]thanks for the ball, dad, [F]come on, let's
play, can you teach me to throw?
I said, [Cm]and not today, I got [A#]a lot to [F]do, he said that's okay, and [D#]he walked [A#/D]away, but
[Cm]his smile never [D#/A#]dimmed, and said, [G#]I'm gonna [G]be like [F]him, yeah, [G#]you know I'm gonna [G]be like
[F]him.
Chorus
And the cats and the cradles and [D#]the silks, oh, little [G#]boy blue and the man [A#]and the moat,
[F]when you're coming home, dad, [D#]I don't know [Gm7]when, [Cm]but we'll get together then, [F]you [Cm]know
we'll have a good [F]time then.
Verse 3
Well, it came from college just [Fm/G#]the other day, [G#]so [A#]much like [F]a man I just had to say,
son, I'm proud of you, and [Cm]you sit for a while, [A#]he shook his head, and he said [F]with a smile,
what [D#]I'd really like, [A#/D]dad, [Cm]is the bar of the [D#/A#]car keys, [G#]see [C/G]you later, can [F]I have them,
please?
Chorus
And the cats and the cradles and [D#]the silks, oh, little [G#]boy blue and the [A#]man and the moat,
when [F]you're coming home, son, [Gm7]I don't know when, [Cm]but we'll get together then, [F]dad, [Cm]you
know we'll have a good [F]time then.
Verse 4
[C#] [D#] [Cm] [F]
I've long since retired, [Fm7/G#]my son's moved away, [A#]I called him up [F]just the other day, I said
I'd like to see you, [Fm7/G#]if you don't mind, he said [A#]I'd love to, dad, [F]if I can find the
time, [F]you see [D#]my new jobs [A#]are hassled [Cm]and the kids are the flu, but [G#]it's your nice [G]talk
into [F]you, dad, it's [G#]been sure nice [Cm/G]talking to [F]you, and as [D#]a hung up the [A#/D]phone, [Cm]it occurred
to me, he'd grown up just like [F]me, [Cm]my boy was just like [F]me.
Chorus
And the cats and the cradles and [D#]the silks, oh, [G#]little boy blue and the [A#]man and the moat,
[F]when you're coming home, son, [D#]I don't know when, [G#]but we'll get [C]together then, [F]dad, [G#]we're
gonna have [Cm/G]a good time [F]then.
Outro
[Cm] [F5]