Sad but True Words of Wisdom
While driving across the country, I noticed the more relaxed pace as I moved further into the heartland states, and started thinking about the importance of family, and friends, and just how few of us on our deathbeds will be wishing we had spent more time at the office. This led me to ponder over the lyrics to Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle," a song that we all know. There really is a lot of truth in this song:
My child arrived just the other day
He came into 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, and as he grew
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, Dad"
"You know I'm gonna be like you"
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"
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 then said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys"
"See you later, can I have them please?"
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 could find the time"
"You see my new job's a hassle and the 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 in the Moon
"When you comin' home, Son?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then"
"You know we'll have a good time then"
My child arrived just the other day
He came into 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, and as he grew
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, Dad"
"You know I'm gonna be like you"
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"
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 then said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys"
"See you later, can I have them please?"
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 could find the time"
"You see my new job's a hassle and the 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 in the Moon
"When you comin' home, Son?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then"
"You know we'll have a good time then"