#-------------------------------PLEASE NOTE-------------------------------------#
# This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
# song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
Cats In The Cradle chords
Harry Chapin *

Capo I

E  D E

   E                      G
My child arrived just the other day
   A                        E
He came to the world in the usual way
                                   G
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
   A                       E
He learned to walk while I was away
           D               A            Bm    A
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
              G     Bm      E
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
    G              Bm      E
You know I'm gonna be like you"

        E                           D
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
G                       A
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
E 
When you comin' home dad?
  D                    G           Bm     E
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
    G                 Bm        E
You know we'll have a good time then

E  D E

   E                       G
My son turned ten just the other day
          A                         E
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
                                    G
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
  A                           E
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
       D       A           Bm          A
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
               G     Bm           E
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
    G              Bm      E
You know I'm gonna be like him"

        E                           D
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
G                       A
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
E
When you comin' home dad?
  D                    G           Bm     E
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
    G                 Bm        E
You know we'll have a good time then

E  D E

         E                               G
Well, he came home from college just the other day
A                         E
So much like a man I just had to say
                                G
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
   A                  E
He shook his head and said with a smile
          D            A          Bm             A
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
G                    E
See you later, can I have them please?"

        E                           D
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
G                       A
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
E
When you comin' home son?
  D                    G           Bm     E
I don't know when, but we'll get together then 
    G                 Bm        E
You know we'll have a good time then

C D Bm E  2x

     E                      G
I've long since retired, my son's moved away
  A                      E
I called him up just the other day
                                G
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
              A                      E
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
           D           A          Bm            A
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
         G         Bm         E
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
          G         Bm         E
It's been sure nice talking to you"

    D                A          Bm        A
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
     G        Bm        E
He'd grown up just like me
   G       Bm        E
My boy was just like me

        E                           D
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
G                       A
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
E
When you comin' home son?
  D                    G           Bm     E
I don't know when, but we'll get together then 
    G                 Bm        E
You know we'll have a good time then

E D  E

* Alternate:

Capo III

E  = D
D  = C
G  = F
A  = G
Bm = Am
C  = Bb

Set8