Other arrangements of Cat's In The Cradle
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My (F)child ar rived just the (Ab)oth er day.
He He (Bb)came to the world in the (F)u su al way, but there were planes me to catch I and (Ab)bills to pay.
I got a He learned to walk while I (F)was a way.
And he was (Eb)talk in’ ’fore I (Eb)knew it, and (Eb)as he grew he’d say, (Ab)“I’m gon na (Cm)be like (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 in’ 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.”
My
Well, he (F)came from col just the (Ab)oth er day, so (Bb)much like a man.
I just (F)had to say, “Son, I’m proud of you, can you (Ab)sit for a while?
He shook his head and he (F)said with a smile, “What I’d (Eb)real ly like, (Eb)Dad, is to (Cm7)bor row the (Eb)car keys.
See you (Cm)lat er.
Can I (F)have them, please?”
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 in’ home, son?” “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.”
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 (Cm7)kids have the flu, but it’s (Ab)sure nice (Cm)talk in’ to (F)you, Dad.
It’s been (Ab)sure nice (Cm)talk in’ to (F)you.”
And as I (Eb)hung up the (Eb)phone, it oc (Cm7)curred 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 with the (Eb)sil ver spoon, (Ab)lit tle boy blue and the man in the moon.
(F)“When you com in’ home, son?” “I (Eb)don’t know when, but (Ab)we’ll get to (Cm)geth er then, Dad.
We’re (Ab)gon na have a (Cm)good time (F)then.”
Cat's In The Cradle — Visual Piano Sheet Music
6 people have learned this song
"Cat's In The Cradle" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of Bb, 160 BPM.
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
Try other practice modes:
About “Cat's In The Cradle”
- Why does "Cat's In The Cradle" show as colored bars instead of notation?
- Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "Cat's In The Cradle".
- What key is "Cat's In The Cradle" by Harry Chapin played in?
- Cat's In The Cradle is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Cat's In The Cradle"?
- The arrangement plays at 160 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Cat's In The Cradle" easy to play on piano?
- This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
- Can I download sheet music for "Cat's In The Cradle"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Cat's In The Cradle"?
- "Cat's In The Cradle" was originally performed by Harry Chapin. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Cat's In The Cradle"?
- This arrangement uses 9 chords: Ab, Bb, Cm, Cm7, Db, Eb, F, Fpow, +1 more.
- What other songs by Harry Chapin can I play here?
- Try "Cat's In The Cradle", "Cat's In The Cradle". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is this real sheet music for "Cat's In The Cradle"?
- It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "Cat's In The Cradle".
- Can I see all the notes in "Cat's In The Cradle"?
- Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of Bb at 160 BPM.
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