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Cats In The Cradle

Harry Chapin

Text File

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: clarkin@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Clark Case)
Subject: Tab: Cats in the Cradle

Here is Cats in the Cradle as I found it in Nevada. There are some pretty weird
chords in it and I don't know what they are. Could someone post them or mail   
them to me? It is much appreciated. 
 Is there a list somewhere of weird chords?
Thanks
Clark Case
clarkin@sage.cc.purdue.edu


Cat's In The Cradle                                Words and music by
                                                   Harry Chapin and Sandy Chapin

As published in "Harry Chapin: A Legacy in Song"
                 (c) 1987 Cherry Lane Music Co., Inc.
IMHO, this is a better version that the simplified version that was/is on
ftp.nevada.edu.

TAB: each space represents an eigth note

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-------|--------|