Cats in the cradle by Harry Chapin

Harry Chapin's life

In Harry Chapin's early career, which he had started in 1958, he was in a band called "The Chapin Brothers." "The Chapin Brothers" had a couple members. They were Tom who played the guitar, Steve who played the bass, and Harry Chapin who started out playing the trumpet then switched to the guitar. During this early career of his, he had done $20 performances at birthday parties. His most popular songs and albums were "Cat's in the Cradle" in the album Snipers and the Love Songs and "Taxi" in the album Heads and Tales. Harry Chapin may have had a tough life, but like other musicians, he let his feelings out in his songs by singing about them.
Harry Chapin came from New York City and his band members came together, not because they were friends to begin with, but because they were brothers. Harry Chapin started out playing folk music but he had experimented with many things, not just music. Such as musicals, and a documentary, and went to college several times. Most of his lyrics were about his life and family. Over time his music began to change and became more story like. He started writing less folk music and began to write more rock. He worked in a couple movies and television. He took the stories that he worked on in film and turned them into music. His songs were mostly inspired by their dad, Jim Chapin. Their dad was a musician and had played the drums. Harry Chapin was also influenced by a church choir.
Harry Chapin was one of thoes many people that cared about World Hunger. Usually artists make music and do concerts for themselves, but Harry was very unique and he gave the money that he got from his concerts trying to stop world hunger. that is why He started the W.H.Y. (World Hunger Year) in order stop world hunger. It was a good thing because most song artists don't really care about world hunger, but Harry Chapin did and had decided to do something to stop it.
'The Chapin Brothers' aren't around anymore because they either died of sickness or of a car crash like Harry Chapin did. He died on July 16, 1981. All his stories were influenced by his life. They influence other people so when someone feels like they can't do anything for the world, Harry Chapin made them say that they were wrong and that they could do something to help the world. Even though some people remember Harry Chapin, many people don't even know who he was or what he had done for the world. But they do remember his songs and still listen to them.

cats in the cradle lyric analysis

Most kids have parents who are always away and don’t have such a good bond with them. If you did or do have a great bond with them, you are extremely lucky. "Cats in the cradle" by Harry Chapin written in 1974 is about his own experience as a child. Using this touching song, I have decided to connect this song to that seems although it is everyone favorite song to a couple of things. I will connect to the society in which we live in, myself, and the themes of a novel, small steps, and a book my class and I read.

First I will connect this song to myself. "When you comin' home dad? I don't know when, but we'll get together then" this is something I can connect to. Although my dad does not go on business trips, he works late and I often find myself asking him when he is coming home. Like Harry Chapin, my dad didn’t miss out on anything important in my life but he did work late on most days.

Next, I will connect this song to the society in which we live in. many parents including both genders have missed so much on their kids life and have wished for a second chance and some got lucky and had another child. Others were not as lucky. This song was more for parents that missed out on important events in their children’s life because it tells you that if you get lucky and have another child, not to make the same mistakes they made on their other child/children.

Harry Chapin most likely wrote the song about himself with the fact that his father didn’t have enough time for him and then when his father did have time for him, harry chapin didn’t have time to play. The song connects to the novel Small Steps because a 10 year old white girl, Ginny, her father had abandoned Ginny when she was a baby because she had a disability. Ginny never saw her father and wished he was there for her first steps, words, etc. just as the boy did.

cats in the cradle lyrics

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