My child ar rived lege just the (Ab)oth er day.
He (Bb)came to the world in the (F)u su al way, but there were planes to catch I and (Ab)bills to pay.
I He learned to walk while I (F)was a way.
And he was (Eb)talk ing ’fore I (Eb)knew it, and (Cm)as he grew (Eb)dimmed.
he says, (Cm)“I’m gon na be er.
like I (F)you, Dad.
You (Ab)know I’m gon na (Cm)be like (F)you.”
And the cat’s in the cra dle and the (Eb)sil ver spoon, (Ab)lit tle boy blue and the man in the moon.
(F)“When you com ing home, Dad?” “I (Eb)don’t know when, but (Ab)we’ll get to (Cm)geth er then.
You (Ab)know we’ll have a (Cm)good time (F)then.”
Well, My son turned ten lege just the (Ab)oth er day.
He (Bb)“Thanks for the ball, Dad.
Come (F)on, su let’s play.
but Can you teach me throw?” can said, (Ab)“Not to day.
I He lot to do.” He said, (F)“That’s o kay.” And And he, (Eb)real he walked a (Eb)way but his (Cm)smile nev er (Eb)car It said, (Cm)“I’m gon na be er.
like I (F)him, yeah.
You (Ab)know I’m gon na (Cm)be like (F)him.”
And the cat’s in the cra dle and the (Eb)sil ver spoon, (Ab)lit tle boy blue and the man in the moon.
(F)“When you com ing home, Dad?” “I (Eb)don’t know when, but (Ab)we’ll get to (Cm)geth er then.
You (Ab)know we’ll have a (Cm)good time (F)then.”
Well, he
I’ve long since re tired, my (Ab)son’s moved a way.
I called him up just the (F)oth er day.
I said, “I’d like to see you if (Ab)you don’t mind.” He said, “I’d (Bb)love to, Dad, if I can (F)find the time.
You see, my (Eb)new job’s a (Eb)has sle and the (Cm)kids have the flu, but it’s (Ab)sure nice (Cm)talk ing to (F)you, Dad.
It’s been (Ab)sure nice (Cm)talk ing to (F)you.”
And as I (Eb)hung up the (Eb)phone, it oc (Cm)cured to me, he’d (Ab)grown up (Cm)just like (F)me;
my (Ab)boy was (Cm)just like (F)me.
And the cat’s in the cra dle and the (Eb)sil ver spoon, (Ab)lit tle boy blue and the man in the moon.
(F)“When you com ing home, son?” “I (Eb)don’t know when, but (Ab)we’ll get to (Cm)geth er then, Dad.
You (Ab)know we’ll have a (Cm)good time (F)then.”
This page shows “Cat's In The Cradle” by Harry Chapin in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Bb at 160 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.