Singer/songwriter Jen Chapin is the daughter of the late folk-rock artist H… Read Full Bio ↴Singer/songwriter Jen Chapin is the daughter of the late folk-rock artist Harry Chapin, who is best-known for his 1974 smash "Cats in the Cradle." Jen Chapin's work is quite different from her father's; while he was primarily a folk-rocker, she is much more difficult to categorize. Folk-rock has influenced her, but jazz, soul, funk, pop, and blues have also had a major impact on the New Yorker (who has stated that her taste in music ranges from Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan to Cassandra Wilson, Led Zeppelin, John Lee Hooker, and A Tribe Called Quest). Some of Chapin's introspective, probing work could be described as jazzy folk-pop; some of it could be called adult alternative and some of it has strong R&B leanings. However you categorize Chapin, it is obvious that she is very much her own person. But as different as Chapin's songs are from her father's, she has followed in his footsteps in at least two respects: First, she pursued a career in music and second, she shares his interest in social causes (especially combating world hunger). Born on Long Island in 1971, Chapin grew up in the New York City suburbs. She was only ten when, on July 16, 1981, her father was killed in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway at the age of 38. In 1989, an 18-year-old Chapin left Long Island to attend Brown University in Providence, RI. While she was a student at Brown, Chapin traveled to Zimbabwe and Mexico to study international relations; then, she returned to Providence and graduated from Brown with a degree in that field. It was around that time that Chapin really became serious about pursuing a career in music and she turned down a spot in a master's program in teaching so she could move to Boston and study music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Although Chapin had been singing since childhood, she felt that attending Berklee (where she studied improvisation and jazz harmony, among other things) marked the first time she seriously identified herself as a musician. Since moving back to the New York area in 1995, Chapin has done her share of music teaching; at a Brooklyn high school, she has taught a course that she developed called "The History of Black Music." That is in addition to becoming quite active on the Manhattan club scene, where she has often performed with jazz bassist Stephan Crump. In 1997, Chapin released a self-titled EP on her own Purple Chair Music; she went on to record Live at the Bitter End (her first full-length album) for Purple Chair in 1999 and Open Wide (a duet with Crump) for her label in 2001. When Chapin isn't doing music-related things, she is heavily involved in social causes. Chapin heads the board of directors of World Hunger Year (WHY), a non-profit organization that her father co-founded in 1975.

Cat's In The Cradle
Jen Chapin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My child arrived just the other day
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.”

Well, 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 ok.”
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I’m gonna be like him.”

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.”

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 said with a smile,
“What I’d really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later. Can I have them please?”

Well, the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon
“When you comin’ home, son?”
“I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, Dad
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

Well, 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 can find the time.
You see, my new job’s a hassle and the kids have 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

Well, the cat’s 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, but we’ll get together then, Dad
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

Overall Meaning

Jen Chapin's Cat's In The Cradle is a powerful song about the sacrifice that fathers often make for their families, and the price that sometimes comes with it. The song begins with the arrival of the child, and the way that the father's responsibilities often keep him from being there at important moments. Despite this, the child grows up to idolize his father, and wants to be just like him. However, as the father gets older, and the child becomes an adult, the roles are reversed. The father longs for time with his son, but is often put off due to his son's busy life.

The main theme of the song is the price of success and the cost of time. It's a warning of what can happen if you don't prioritize time with your loved ones. The song also shows that despite the sacrifices a father makes, he can still make his child proud. However, the ending is bittersweet, as the father realizes that his life passes on to his son, and that he has to suffer the same sacrifices that his father did.

Overall, Cats In The Cradle is a poignant reminder of the importance of time and family, and how the pursuit of success can often come at a great personal cost.

Line by Line Meaning

My child arrived just the other day
My child was born not long ago, and time has been moving fast.

Came into the world in the usual way
The arrival of my child was typical and nothing out of the ordinary occurred during the birth.

But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
I had to take care of responsibilities like work and finances that forced me to be away from my child.

He learned to walk while I was away
The time I spent away from my child caused me to miss important developmental moments, like learning to walk.

And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew
My child's rapid growth and development surprised me as I struggled to keep up with my other obligations.

He’d say “I’m gonna be like you, Dad
My child looked up to me and aspired to be like me when he grew up.

You know I’m gonna be like you.”
My child made it clear that he wanted to follow in my footsteps and be like me.

Well, the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
This refers to the child's toy and the father's wealth that existed in my life when I was young, but now no longer have significance.

Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon
This is a reference to the nursery rhyme “Little Boy Blue” and the man in the moon who observes everything from afar, perhaps a metaphor for time passing by quickly or things getting lost in the daily grind of life.

“When you comin’ home, Dad?”
The child wants to know when the father will return home from his responsibilities.

“I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, son
The father doesn't know when he'll be able to return home, but promises that they will spend time together in the future.

You know we’ll have a good time then.”
The father is optimistic that when they finally spend time together, they will have a good time.

My son turned ten just the other day
My child has just turned 10 years old, and I'm starting to recognize that he's growing up fast.

He said, “Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on, let’s play
My child expresses gratitude for the ball he received and wants to spend time playing with me.

Can you teach me to throw?” I said, “Not today
I'm unable to teach my child how to throw the ball today, possibly due to work or other obligations.

I got a lot to do”, he said, “That’s ok.”
My child is understanding when I'm too busy to spend time with him and doesn't push me to play.

And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
My child seemed happy and didn't show any disappointment even though we couldn't play together.

And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah.
My child still looked up to me and wanted to be like me despite my lack of availability.

You know I’m gonna be like him.”
My child aspires to follow in my footsteps and be like me.

So much like a man I just had to say
As my child grew up, he started to become more mature and look like a young adult, making me proud of him.

“Son, I’m proud of you. Can you sit for a while?”
I express my pride in my child and ask him to spend some time with me

He shook his head and said with a smile,
My child refused the request to spend time with me but remained polite and happy to see me.

“What I’d really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
My child needs access to my car, revealing his growing independence and responsibilities.

See you later. Can I have them please?”
My child leaves without fulfilling my request to spend time together, showing that other activities have become a priority for him.

Well, I’ve long since retired; my son’s moved away
I'm no longer working, and my child has grown up and moved away.

I said, “I’d like to see you if you don’t mind.”
As a father, I still want to spend time with my child and reach out to make that happen in spite of the distance between us.

He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I can find the time.
My child is busy with his own life but still wants to make time to see me.

You see, my new job’s a hassle and the kids have the flu
My child has new responsibilities and a family, which can make visiting difficult.

But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad.
Even though my child is unable to visit me, he still values talking to me and keeping in touch.

It’s been sure nice talking to you.”
The conversation with his father brings back positive childhood memories and has been pleasant.

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
After talking with my child, I have a realization or an insight that I want to share.

He’d grown up just like me
My son has become like me, inheriting some of my beliefs, values and patterns of behaviour.

My boy was just like me
My child has grown up, which has made me aware of the similarities between him and me.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY F. CHAPIN, SANDY CHAPIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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