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Cats In The Cradle by Harry Chapin
Cats In The Cradle
The music says CAPO 8 (key of F) but I usually play it CAPO 5 (key of D),
since that's in my range.
INTRO:
A(no 3rd)
e|--0-0---|20------|--------|----|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
B|--------|--0-3---|0----0--|--0-|--------|--------|------0-|--------|--------|
G|2-------|---2----|---2----|0---|2-------|20------|----0---|2-------|--------|
D|--------|--------|--------|----|----2---|--2-0---|--------|--------|--------|
A|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|---3--3-|0-------|--------|--------|
E|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
A C
My child arrived just the other day;
D A
he came into the world in the usual way.
A C
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
D A
He learned to walk while I was away.
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it. And as he grew
C Em/B A C Em/B A
he'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, Dad. You know I'm gonna be like you."
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
C D
little boy blue and the man in the moon.
A G
"When you comin' home Dad?" "I don't know when,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but we'll get together then, Son. You know we'll have a good time then."
A(no 3rd)
e|--0-0---|20------|--------|----|--------|
B|--------|--0-3---|0----0--|--0-|--------|
G|2-------|---2----|---2----|0---|2-------|
D|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
A|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
E|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
A C
My son turned ten just the other day.
D A
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come on, let's play.
A C
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today.
D A
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's okay."
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed.
C Em/B A C Em/B A
It said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah. You know I'm gonna be like him."
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
C D
little boy blue and the man in the moon.
A G
"When you comin' home Dad?" "I don't know when,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but we'll get together then, Son. You know we'll have a good time then."
A(no 3rd)
e|--0-0---|20------|--------|----|--------|
B|--------|--0-3---|0----0--|--0-|--------|
G|2-------|---2----|---2----|0---|2-------|
D|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
A|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
E|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
A C
Well, he came home from college just the other day,
D A
so much like a man I just had to say,
A C
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
D A
He shook his head and he said with a smile,
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys.
C Em/B A
See you later. Can I have them please?"
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
C D
little boy blue and the man in the moon.
A G
"When you comin' home Son?" "I don't know when,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but we'll get together then, Dad. You know we'll have a good time then."
F G Em A
F G Em A
(Slower)
A C
I've long since retired, my son's moved away.
D A
I called him up just the other day.
A C
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
D A
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time.
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
You see, my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad. It's been sure nice talkin' to you."
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
And as I hung up the phone it occured to me,
C Em/B A(no 3rd) C Em/B A
he'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.
(Tempo I)
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
C D
little boy blue and the man in the moon.
A G
"When you comin' home Son?" "I don't know when,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but we'll get together then, Dad, we're gonna have a good time then."
A(no 3rd) A
e|--0-0---|20------|--------|----|0-------|--------|
B|--------|--0-3---|0----0--|--0-|2-------|--------|
G|2-------|---2----|---2----|0---|2-------|--------|
D|--------|--------|--------|----|2-------|--------|
A|--------|--------|--------|----|0-------|--------|
E|--------|--------|--------|----|0-------|--------|
--------------
version 2
For the Intro I play a simple chord melody - (I use an [E-on the 7th fret,
a [D-in 1st position), and an [E](1st position). I basically use these three
chords with a lot of ornimentation for chord melody (not seen here) - just
listen to the original intro to hear the melody & you'll be able to match it
with these chords and ornamentation. I don't play this version with a capo
since it fits my voice better without one - however use a capo if needed.
Almost all of the chords used here are basic first-position chords (unless
you want to play them elsewhere). The A/C# Chord is just an "A" Chord with
a C# (A-string-4th fret) in the bass.
Here are basic the chord fingerings used:
E-022100 G-320033 A-002220 D-000232
Bm-224432 C-032010
(Intro}
[E]-7th fret with ornamentation] [D] [E]-first position]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Verse 1)
My [E] child arrived just the [G] other day, He [A]came to the world in the [E] usual way
But there were [E] planes to catch and [G] bills to pay, He [A] learned to walk while I
was away
And he was [D] talking 'for I [A/C#] knew it, and [Bm] as he grew
He said [G] "I'm gonna [Bm] be like [E]you, dad, you [Bm]know I'm gonna [D]be like [E]you"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Chorus)
And the [E] cat's in the cradle and the[D] silver spoon,
[G] Little boy blue and the [A] man in the moon
[E] "When you commin' home dad?" "I [D] don't know when,
But [G] we'll get [Bm]together then[E], You [G] know we'll have a [Bm]good time [E]then"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Verse 2)
My [E] son turned ten just the [G] other day, He said [A] "Thanks for the ball dad, come
on let's play
Can you [E] teach me to throw", I said [G] "Not today I got a [A] lot to do", He said
OK"
He [D] walked [A/C#] away but his [Bm] smile never dimmed,
He said [G] I'm gonna [Bm] be like [E] him, yeah, You [Bm] know I'm gonna [D] be like [E]him
----------------
*(Chorus)*
----------------
*(Intro)*
----------------
(Verse 3)
Well he [E]came from college just the [G]other day, So [A] much like a man I just [E]had
say
"Son I'm [E]proud of you can you [G]sit for a while?" He [A]shook his head and he[E]
with a smile,
"What I'd [D]really like [A/C#] dad is to [Bm] borrow the car keys,
[G]See you [Bm] later can I [E]have them please?"
--------------------------
*(Chorus)*
--------------------------
*(Instrumental Bridge)*
[C] - [D] - [Bm] - [E] 2X
--------------------------
*(Intro)*
--------------------------
(Verse 4)
I've [E] long since retired, my [G]son's moved away, [A] I called him up just the [E]
day
I said "I'd [E]like to see you if [G]you don't mind", He said "I'd[A] love to dad if I
the time,
You see the my [D]new job's a[A/C#]hassle and the [Bm]kids have the flu
But it's [G]sure nice [Bm]talkin' to [E]you dad - It's [G]sure nice [Bm]talkin' to[E] you"
And as I [D]hung up the [A/C#]phone it [Bm]occurred to me,
He'd [G]grown up [Bm]just like [E]me
My [G]boy was[Bm] just like [E]me
-----------------------------------------
(Chorus)
And the [E]cat's in the cradle and the [D]silver spoon, [G]Little boy blue and the
in the moon
[E]"When you commin' home son?" "I [D]don't know when, But [G]we'll get [Bm]together
Dad,
(slowly) . . . We're [G]gonna have a [Bm]good time [E]then"
------------------------------------------
(END)
*Intro Slowly*
--------------
version 3
Verse Part: 2 (comes in during first verse)
G---------------|-------|
D-1-0-----------|-------|
A-----3-1-------|-------|
E---------4-3-1-|-4-3-1-|
Chorus
G-------------------------------|
D---3-3-3---1-1-----------------|
A-3-------3---------------------|
E---------------3-4-4-4-4-6-6-6-|
Pre-verse/ Outro
G---------------------------|
D-2h3-2h3-2h3-3-------3-----|
A---------------2h3-----2h3-|
E-------------------1-------|
Verse (not played during first verse)
G-----------------|
D-----------------|
A---------------3-|
E-1-4-6-4-6-4-1---|
Bridge
G---------------------|
D-------------3---3---|
A-----------3---3---3-|
E-4-4-6-3-1-----------|
Pre-verse after Bridge
G-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
D---3-|---3-|---3-|---3-|-----|
A-3---|-3---|-3---|-3---|-2h3-|
E-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
Capo I
E D E
E G
My child arrived just the other day
A E
He came to the world in the usual way
G
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
A E
He learned to walk while I was away
D A Bm A
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
G Bm E
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
G Bm E
You know I'm gonna be like you"
E D
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
G A
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
E
When you comin' home dad?
D G Bm E
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
G Bm E
You know we'll have a good time then
E D E
E G
My son turned ten just the other day
A E
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
G
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
A E
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
D A Bm A
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
G Bm E
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
G Bm E
You know I'm gonna be like him"
E D
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
G A
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
E
When you comin' home dad?
D G Bm E
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
G Bm E
You know we'll have a good time then
E D E
E G
Well, he came home from college just the other day
A E
So much like a man I just had to say
G
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
A E
He shook his head and said with a smile
D A Bm A
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
G E
See you later, can I have them please?"
E D
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
G A
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
E
When you comin' home son?
D G Bm E
I don't know when, but we'll get together then
G Bm E
You know we'll have a good time then
C D Bm E 2x
E G
I've long since retired, my son's moved away
A E
I called him up just the other day
G
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
A E
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
D A Bm A
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
G Bm E
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
G Bm E
It's been sure nice talking to you"
D A Bm A
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
G Bm E
He'd grown up just like me
G Bm E
My boy was just like me
E D
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
G A
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
E
When you comin' home son?
D G Bm E
I don't know when, but we'll get together then
G Bm E
You know we'll have a good time then
E D E
* Alternate:
Capo III
E = D
D = C
G = F
A = G
Bm = Am
C = Bb
Legend:
h - Hammer-On
----------