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The 1974 hit “Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin, about a father too busy to spend time with his son, contains no subtlety whatsoever. I suppose it doesn’t need any.

The song was written by Chapin and his wife Sandy and is based on one of her poems. The poem was inspired by the strained relationship between her first husband and his father, a busy politician.

Harry also admitted that the song was an uncomfortable reminder of his relationship with his own son. “Frankly,” he once said, “this song scares me to death.”

If “Cat’s in the Cradle” hits close to home, that‘s the appropriate reaction.

Cat’s in the Cradle

By Harry Chapin, 1974
Written by Harry Chapin and Sandy Chapin

My child arrived just the other day.
He came to the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.

And he was talking ‘fore I knew it,
and as he grew, he’d say,
“I’m gonna be like you, Dad.
You know, I’m gonna be like you.”

And the cat’s in the cradle, and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue, and the Man in the Moon.
“When you coming home, Dad?”
“I don’t know when. But we’ll get together then.
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

My son turned ten just the other day. He said,
“Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come on, let’s play.
Can you teach me to throw?” I said, “Not today.
I got a lot to do.” He said, “That’s okay.”
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed.
He said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah.
You know, I’m gonna be like him.”

And the cat’s in the cradle, and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue, and the Man in the Moon.
“When you coming home, Dad?”
“I don’t know when. But we’ll get together then.
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

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

And the cat’s in the cradle, and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon.
“When you coming home, son?”
“I don’t know when. But we’ll get together then, Dad.
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

I’ve long since retired. My son’s moved away.
I called him up just the other day. I said,
“I’d like to see you, if you don’t mind.”
He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I could find the time.”
“You see, my new job’s a hassle and the kids got the flu.
But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad. It’s been sure nice talking to you.”

And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He’d grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

And the cat’s in the cradle, and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon.
“When you coming home, son?”
“I don’t know when. But we’ll get together then, Dad.
We’re gonna have a good time then.”