Cats In The Cradle (Harry Chapin, Ugly Kid Joe) 
 
(starts on E ) 

  E                      G 
A child arrived just the other day 
   A                          E 
He came into the world in the usual way 
           E                              G 
There were planes to catch and there were bills to pay 
A                            E 
  He learned to walk while I was away 
       D 
He was talking 'fore I knew it and when he could, he said, 
 G                 E 
"I'm gonna be like you, Dad. 
    G                      E 
You know I'm gonna be like you." 
        E                          G 
And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon 
G                       A 
Little boy blue and the man in the moon, sayin' 
E                           G 
When you comin' home son, I don't know when, but 
D                  E 
We'll get together then, yeah, 
    G                           E 
You know we'll have a good time then  
   E                       G 
My son turned ten just the other day 
          A                             E 
He said, "Thanks for the ball dad, come on, let's play. 
          E                            G 
Could you teach me to throw?", I said "Not today. 
        A                    E 
I got a lot to do," he said "That's OK." 
   D 
He walked away with a smile on his face, he said 
 G                 E 
"I'm gonna be like him , yeah, 
    G                      E 
you know I'm gonna be like him" 
        E                          G 
Well he came from college just the other day 
   A                      E 
So much like a man I just had to say: 
          E                       G 
"Son, I'm proud of you, could you sit for a while?" 
   A                     E 
He shook his head and he said with a smile, 
          D 
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys. 
G                  E 
see you later, can I have them please?"  
     E                      G 
I've long since retired, my son moved away 
  A                      E 
I called him up just the other day, said, 
     E                   G 
"I'd like to see you, if you don't mind." 
              A                        E 
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time. 
            D 
You see, my new job's hassle and the kids got the flu, 
         G                    E 
but it's sure nice talking to you, Dad,  
       G                    E 
it was sure nice talking to you."  
         D 
And as I hung up the phone is occurred to me, 
     G                  E 
He'd grown up just like me 
   G                 E 
My boy was just like me. 
 
 
2x