Cat's In The Craddle
Johnny Cash Lyrics
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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 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
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' 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 he walked away but his smile never dimmed
He 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 on the moon
When you comin' home, Dad?
I don't know when but we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then
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 ya later, can I have them please?"
And 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
Now I've 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
My new job's a hassle and the kids got the flu
But it's nice talkin' to you Dad, it's sure nice talkin' to you"
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 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 gonna have a good time then
The song "Cat's In The Cradle" by Johnny Cash tells the story of a father who is too busy with work and other responsibilities to spend time with his son. The song begins with Cash singing about the birth of his son and the everyday pressures of life that keep him from being present for many of his son's milestones. As his son grows up, he becomes more and more distant, wanting to be like his dad but never receiving the attention and guidance he needs. Finally, the father reaches out to his son later in life only to realize that he has grown up to be just like him.
The song's imagery of the "cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon" is a metaphor for the cyclical nature of life and the idea that parents pass their behaviors, attitudes, and habits onto their children. The "cat's in the cradle" is referring to the old nursery rhyme about a cat who is sleeping in a cradle while the baby mice play around him. The phrase "little boy blue and the man on the moon" symbolizes the father's realization that his son has grown up and is no longer a little boy.
Overall, the song highlights the importance of spending time with loved ones and the negative impact that neglecting relationships can have on a family. It's a poignant reminder that we need to make time for those who matter most to us before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
A child arrived just the other day
My son was born not long ago
He came to the world in the usual way
His birth was a normal one
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
I was too busy working to spend much time with him
He learned to walk while I was away
He achieved important milestones without me being present
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it and as he grew
He grew up quickly and I missed a lot
He said, I'm gonna be like you, Dad
He admired me and wanted to be like me
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Time passes quickly and my son is growing up fast
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
My son is both young and full of promise for the future
When you comin' home Dad?
My son misses me and wants me to come home
I don't know when but we'll get together then
I'm uncertain when I'll be able to spend time with him
You know we'll have a good time then
When we're together, we'll have a good time
My son turned ten just the other day,
My son is already ten years old
He said 'Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
He wants to spend time with me playing sports
Can you teach me to throw?' I said 'Not today, I got a lot to do', he said 'That's okay'
I declined his request to play and he was understanding
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
He was still happy despite my rejection
He said, 'I'm gonna be like him, yeah You know I'm gonna be like him'
He still wants to be like me despite my absence
He came from college just the other day
My son has grown up and finished college
So much like a man, I just had to say 'Son I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?'
I'm proud of him and want to spend time with him
He shook his head, and said with a smile 'What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys See ya later, can I have them please?'
He has grown up and wants to be independent
Now I've retired, my son's moved away
I'm retired and he's moved away
I said, 'I'd like to see you, if you don't mind'
I want to spend time with him now that I have more free time
He said, 'I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time My new job's a hassle and the kids got the flu'
He's busy with work and family obligations
But it's nice talkin' to you Dad, it's sure nice talkin' to you'
He still values our relationship and enjoys talking to me
As I hung up the phone it occurred to me He'd grown up just like me
He has become just like me in many ways
My boy was just like me
My son has inherited many of my traits
You gonna have a good time then
When we do spend time together, we will enjoy ourselves
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sandy Chapin, Harry F. Chapin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thomasraahauge5231
That's what I love so much about my Old Man: He always had time for us kids when we grew up. We would play soccer in the evening if weather wasn't acting out, or any old board game if we had to stay inside. I can barely remember a night where he didn't read us bedtime stories, and we spend so many weekends walking in the forest, by the beach, or by the lake. He's doing the same for my daughter when she visits my Old Folks.
How comes he had so much time for us? A lot of the kids in school were so envious. I took it for granted, that my Old Man just was . . . there. He chose us kids.
My Old Man was an engineer, and could have piled a lot of cash if he'd been working for a private company, but worked for the town counsil instead. No extra hours, but way lower wages. We weren't excactly poor, but we never went on expensive holidays, he never bought a fancy car, he still sails his boat (which is actually just a little dinghy with a 4hp outboard engine). He never bought fancy clothes or expensive shoes for us. We made a lot of our own toys out of sticks and planks.
Some times, I envied THOSE kids. The ones with fancy shiny plastic toys, levi's jeans, 12 or 15 gears racer bikes, going to pop concerts and fancy resorts in the summer. But they only had their dad around that one week at a time: christmas and summer holiday. Their dad rarely had time for bedtime stories or walks in the forest.
They grew up with silver spoons. I grew up with my Old Man. He did the right thing, and I would never trade my childhood time with him for all the shiny toys in the world. God bless you, Old Man!
@prateekpareek8217
Off the Ranch got me here, Demolitia is here!!
@codyleslie478
Demolitia for life!!
@jean-francoiscarrier3286
Same here!! Demo for life!!
@chuckcocain9397
Yes bro liked it from him!!!
@josephpoindexter248
Yeah same
@joncunningham7672
#DEMO
@williamkirkland7002
No one can beat Johnny Cash. His guitar always sounds like a long black train rolling down the Eastern Seaboard. This was a great rendition of "The Cats In The Cradle"
@matteobarbarossa4420
😢
@polishexpress2387
Ngl cat Stevens version is better
@user-vs1pp1bf1z
@polishexpress2387 agreed but this one still is great