Cat's in the cradle

Posted by Lotg on May 09, 2003

In Reply to: Cat's in the cradle posted by ESC 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.".

: I know the song well, but I fail to see the connection between the lack of time spent between father and son, and the original reason for this question, which was that some received a rude email. Any thoughts on that connection, cos I don't understand what she's suggesting.