folk, folk rock, mellow gold, singer-songwriter
Cats In The Cradle chords
Harry Chapin * 1974
[Intro]
|-----0---0---2p0---------------------|
|-----------------0---3-0---0-----0---|
|-2-------2---------2-2---2---0-0----2|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
[Verse 1]
A C
My child arrived just the other day
G A
He came to the world in the usual way
G
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
C A
He learned to walk while I was away
G Em
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
C Em A
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
C Em A
You know I'm gonna be like you"
[Chorus]
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
C A
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
A
When you comin' home dad?
G C Em A
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
C Em A
You know we'll have a good time then
[Transition]
|-----0---0---2p0---------------------|
|-----------------0---3-0---0-----0---|
|-2-------2---------2-2---2---0-0----2|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
[Verse 2]
A C
My son turned ten just the other day
G A
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
C
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
G A
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
G C
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
C Em A
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
C Em A
You know I'm gonna be like him"
[Chorus]
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
C A
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
A
When you comin' home dad?
G C Em A
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
C Em A
You know we'll have a good time then
[Transition]
|-----0---0---2p0---------------------|
|-----------------0---3-0---0-----0---|
|-2-------2---------2-2---2---0-0----2|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
[Verse 3]
A C
Well, he came home from college just the other day
G A
So much like a man I just had to say
C
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
G A
He shook his head and said with a smile
G C
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
G A
See you later, can I have them please?"
[Chorus]
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
C A
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
A
When you comin' home dad?
G C Em A
I don't know when, but we'll get together then Dad
C Em A
You know we'll have a good time then
D C Em A 2x
(Slower)
[Verse 4]
A C
I've long since retired, my son's moved away
G A
I called him up just the other day
C
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
G A
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
G Em
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
C Em A
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
C Em A
It's been sure nice talking to you"
G Em
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
C Em A
He'd grown up just like me
C Em A
My boy was just like me
(A Tempo)
[Chorus]
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
C A
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
A
When you comin' home dad?
G C Em A
I don't know when, but we'll get together then Dad
C Em A
You know we'll have a good time then
[Outro]
|-----0---0---2p0----------------------|
|-----------------0---3-0---0-----0---2|
|-2-------2---------2-2---2---0-0-----2|
|-------------------------------------2|
|--------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------|