Song Lyrics

The Cat’s in the Cradle
By Harry Chapin
A 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 ok."And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed,
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 and 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 kid's 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.
You know we'll have a good time then."

1. Argument:
a. What are the consequences of working hard to provide everything for your children when they are young to the exclusion of not being there when they need you on who or what they will be come when they grow up?

2. Audience:
a. He’s singing to his son, but the message is to everyone who has small children and has put work above family.

3. Goal:
a. To let everyone know that you only get one chance at raising your children. If you let other things (worldly, material things) become more important in your life, your children will probably follow the example that was set for them and put those things first in their lives also. Put your family (children) first while they are young…it won’t wait till you have achieved your riches.

4. Pathos & Logos:
a. The writer uses the emotions of the listener as you hear the child say “I want to be like you, spend time with me dad” and the dad is too busy. Soon the roles are reversed and the dad wants to spend time with the son, but in reality the son has taken on the same values as the dad and he now is too busy to spend the time. It makes the listeners heart ache for the two to be together.
b. The logos part is that this is the example the dad has set and the whole time the boy is saying “I’m going to be like you, dad” and in the end he really is.

5. Effectiveness:
a. This song was a classic in it’s time (1974). Its effectiveness has been proven in the amount of times it has been used to create a scene or mood in movies and television shows. I can’t name any at this time but I know throughout the years I’ve heard it come on in the background to create a mood of loneliness or “what if.” It’s something most everyone can identify with because they do exactly that...stir the emotion.