1.
E G
My  child  arrived just the  other  day 
A E
He  came  to the world in the  usual  way 
E G
But there were  planes  to catch and  bills  to pay 
A E
He  lear ned to walk while I  was  away 
D A Bm A
And he was  talk in’ ’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 ”
chorus
E D
And the  cat ’s in the cradle and the  silv er 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 to geth er  then 
G Bm E
You  know  we’ll have a  good  time  then” 
2.
E G
My  son  turned ten just the  other  day 
A E
He said, “ Thanks  for the ball, dad,  come  on let’s play 
E 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  walk ed  away  but his  smile  never  dimm ed 
G Bm E
And said, “ I’m  gonna  be  like  him,  yeah 
G Bm E
You  know  I’m gonna  be  like  him”  
chorus
E D
And the  cat’s  in the cradle and the  silv er 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 ”
3.
E G
Well, he  came  from college just the  other  day 
A E
So  much like a man I just  had  to say 
E 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 Bm E
See  you later, can I  have  them  please”  
chorus
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,  dad 
G Bm E
You  know  we’ll have a  good  time  then”  
4.
E G
I’ve  long  since retired, my  son’s  moved away 
A E
I  calle d him up just the  other  day 
E 
I said, “ I’d like to see you if you don’t mind” 
G A
He said, “I’d  love  to, dad, if I can  find  the time 
E D A Bm
You see my  new  job’s a  hassle  and  kids  have the  flu 
A G Bm
But it’s  sure  nice  talking  to  you,  dad 
E G Bm
It’s been  sure  nice  talk ing to  you”  
link
D A Bm A
And  as  I hung up the  phone  it  occurred  to  me 
G Bm
He’d  grown  up  just  like  me 
G Bm E
My  boy  was  just  like  me  
chorus
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,  dad 
G Bm E
We’re  gonna  have a  good  time  then ”