Cat's in the cradle

[lewism247]

I just listened to Cat's in the cradle by Harry Chapin.It's a good song but what i started this thread to discuss it's meaning.It's quite a haunting song.Is it true for the parents on the escapist.

here's a link to it if you haven't heard it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH46SmVv8SU

 

[lwm3398]

It's, to my understanding, "When you coming home dad?" His Dad is in the war. "When you coming home son?" The son is in the war.

 

[clicketycrack]

Hmmm. Depressing.

 

[lwm3398]

Hmmm. Depressing.

Extremely. When I first heard the song, I was young, so I didn't get it. But it still, in the way he sang it, was heart wrenching.

 

[Kermi]

I loved the song when I was a kid, even though the main reason it struck a chord with me was because my parents were divorced and I truly understood how it felt to rarely see your father but still love him, admire him, and want nothing more than for him to be proud of you.

I wonder how my father feels about it.

 

[hungoverbear]

It's, to my understanding, "When you coming home dad?" His Dad is in the war. "When you coming home son?" The son is in the war.

WAR, have you heard the song.

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 talkin' '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 on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
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
And 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home 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 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
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 can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Yeah, the meaning of the song is pretty damn blunt. Basically, spend time with your kids because they grow up fast. /thread

 

[lwm3398]

It's, to my understanding, "When you coming home dad?" His Dad is in the war. "When you coming home son?" The son is in the war.

WAR, have you heard the song.

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 talkin' '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 on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
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
And 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home 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 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
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 can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, I haven't heard it in years. I could only remember that one line, so I gathered that he had been away at war, then at the end his kid had.

 

[peachadelic]

Yeah, the meaning of the song is pretty damn blunt. Basically, spend time with your kids because they grow up fast. /thread

I always thought it was more like "Watch how you treat your children because they learn from you" and also "Take care of your children because some day it'll be up to them to take care of you."

But I still don't understand what "the silver spoon" means.

 

[Wadders]

Yeah, the meaning of the song is pretty damn blunt. Basically, spend time with your kids because they grow up fast. /thread

I always thought it was more like "Watch how you treat your children because they learn from you" and also "Take care of your children because some day it'll be up to them to take care of you."

But I still don't understand what "the silver spoon" means.

Yeah, it's pretty clear what the song means, it's about how people ought to spend time with their kids if they want them to grow up well and learn the lessons of life from you. I think.

I think the silver spoon has something to do with children's stories, as it appears in the lines about the cat in the cradle, the man in the moon and little boy blue, all of which are references to children's stories.