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Cat's in the cradle

Posted by ESC on May 07, 2003

In Reply to: Cats in the cradle posted by Bob on May 07, 2003

: : Someone just sent me a rude email. She said,
: : 'Smacks of "Cats in the Cradle" syndrome to me.'

: : Any suggestions about what this phrase means? I can't find anything anywhere.

: : Thanks. :-)

: Just guessing: I'd need more context to be sure, but there was a pop song a few years back where the refrain started "Cats in the cradle and a silver spoon..." and it told (in ham-handed fashion) of a father who had no time to spend with his son, who subsequently grew up to ignore the old man in a cosmic karma payback sort of thing.

Cat's in the Cradle
by Harry Chapin (lyrics by Sandra Chapin).

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 talking '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 in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then.".

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