Harry Chapin was the master of musical storytelling.Famous for W*O*L*D, the story of a travelling US morning DJ, in fact Chapin’s only Billboard no.1 was the “Cat’s in the Cradle"
"Cat's in the Cradle" is narrated by a man who becomes a father in the first verse. He is repeatedly too busy with his work to spend time with his son, despite his son looking up to him and promising he will grow up to be just like him. When the son graduates from college, he declines his father's offer to relax with him and instead asks for the car keys. In the final verse, the now-retired father calls his adult son and asks to spend some time together, but the son is now too busy with his own work and family, to spend time with his dad, and the father realises his son has indeed grown up to be just like him.
The song's lyrics began as a poem written by Chapin's wife, Sandra "Sandy" Gaston; the poem itself was inspired by the awkward relationship between her first husband, James Cashmore, and his father.
Harry also said the song was about his own relationship with his son, Josh, admitting, "Frankly, this song scares me to death”
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