Video hit Ugly Kid Joe

Ugly Kid Joe - Cat's in the Cradle

Cat's in the Cradle is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album Verities & Balderdash. The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1974.

As Chapin's only #1 hit song, it became the best known of his work and a staple for folk rock music.

The song's lyrics began as a poem written by Harry's wife, the former Sandra "Sandy" Gaston; the poem itself was inspired by the awkward relationship between her first husband, James Cashmore, and his father, a New York City politician. She was also inspired by a country music song she had heard on the radio.[1] Harry also said that the song was about his father-son relationship with his son, Josh, admitting, "Frankly, this song scares me to death.

A cover of this song was sung by the hard rock group Ugly Kid Joe on their album America's Least Wanted. It sold over 500,000 copies in Australia. The song also appears twice in The Simpsons, in the Season 3 episode "Saturdays of Thunder", and in the Season 6 episode "Bart's Girlfriend". The song also appears in Shrek the Third, sung by Donkey. This song is also sung by Alan in the chapter of Two and a Half Men that Charlie is suspected to be the father of the son of an old ex girlfriend. It was also used in the British government's public information film asking people to report suspected terrorist activity. It was only broadcast in the Ulster Television region.

The song was also covered by Johnny Cash on his 1990 album Boom Chicka Boom.

The song is told in first-person by a father who is too busy to spend time with his son. Though the son asks him to join in childhood activities, the father always responds with little more than vague promises of spending time together in the 'future'. While wishing to spend time with his father, the son starts to model himself on his father's behaviour, hence the verse wishing to be "just like him." The final two verses are a reverse of the roles, where the father asks his grown-up son to visit, but the son responds that he is now too busy to find the time for his father. The father then reflects that they are both alike, saying "my boy was just like me.

The lyrics:

My child arrived just the other day;

Came to the world in the usually way

But there were planes to catch and bills to pay.

He learned to walk while I was away.

He was talkin' 'fore I knew it.

And as he grew he said,

"I'm gonna be like you, Dad.

You know I'm gonna be like you."

[Chorus]

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.

We'll get together then.

You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, my son turned ten just the other day.

He said , "Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come on, let's play.

Could you teach me to throw ?" I said, "Not today.

I got a lot to do." He said, "That's okay."

And he walked away and he smiled and he said,

"You know,

I'm gonna be like him, yeah.

You know I'm gonna be like him."

[Chorus]

Well, he came from college just the other day,

So much like a man I just had to say,

"I'm proud of you. Could 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 ?"

[Chorus]

I've long since retired, my son's moved away.

I called him up just the other day.

"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 have the flu,

But it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad.

It's been sure nice talkin' 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.

(Yeah, yeah, yeah)