Cat's in the Cradle Chords by Harry Chapin

[Start]

[Intro]

[Verse]
F                       Fm7          
■ My child arrived just the other day
   Bb                       F        
He came to the world in the usual way
                                   Ab          
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
Bb                         F       
He learned to walk while I was away
           Eb                     
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it
Cm                     
And as he grew he'd say
Ab                F      
I'm gonna be like you Dad
    Ab                     F  
You know I'm gonna be like you


[Chorus]
                                    Eb          
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Ab                      Bb             
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
F                       
When you comin' home Dad
  Eb             
I don't know when
    Ab                 F   
But we'll get together then
    Ab                          F   
You know we'll have a good time then


[Verse]
                                 F  
My son turned ten just the other day
Ab      Bb                                  F   
He said Thanks for the ball Dad c'mon let's play
                                     Ab   
Can you teach me to throw I said Not today
        Bb                       Eb  
I got a lot to do he said That's okay
       Eb                          
And he he walked away but his smile
Cm                   
Never dimmed and said
Ab                    F   
I'm gonna be like him yeah
    Ab             Cm      F  
You know I'm gonna be like him


[Chorus]
                     Eb                         
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
           Ab           Bb             
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
                F       
When you comin' home Dad
  Eb             
I don't know when
              Cm       F   
But we'll get together then
                      Ab   F        
You know we'll have a good time then


[Verse]
                                   Ab       
Well he came from college just the other day
Bb                        F         
So much like a man I just had to say
                             Ab             
Son I'm proud of you can you sit for a while
   Bb                    F                
He shook his head and he said with a smile
         Eb                    Cm                 
What I'd really like Dad is to borrow the car keys
Ab                  F               
See you later can I have them please


[Chorus]
                                    Eb          
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Ab                      Bb             
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
F                       
When you comin' home son
  Eb             
I don't know when
    Ab        Cm       F       
But we'll get together then Dad
    Ab                Cm        F   
You know we'll have a good time then


[Solo]
Db Eb F Db Eb F
■  ■  ■ ■  ■  ■


[Bridge]
     F                                     
I've long since retired my son's moved away
Bb                   F            
I called him up just the other day
                              Ab            
I said I'd like to see you if you don't mind
        Bb                         F            
He said I'd love to Dad if I could find the time


[Verse]
           Eb                         Cm               
You see my new job's a hassle and the kid's got the flu
         Ab                   F      
But it's sure nice talkin' to you Dad
          Ab                   F  
It's been sure nice talkin' to you
         Eb                   Cm            
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
Ab                      F 
He'd grown up just like me
   Ab           F      
My boy was just like me


[Chorus]
                                    Eb          
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Ab                      Bb             
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
F                       
When you comin' home son
  Eb             
I don't know when
Ab                     F       
But we'll get together then Dad
Ab               Cm          F    Cm F
We're gonna have a good time then ■  ■


[Outro]