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Cats In The Cradle

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Capo First Fret
Key of F
[Verse 1]
A Echild arrived just the Gother day
He Acame to the world in the Eusual way
But there were Eplanes to catch and Gbills to pay
  AHe learned to walk while I Ewas away
And he was Dtalkin 'fore I D/C#knew it and D/Bas he grew D/Ahe'd say
D/GI'm gonna D/F#be like Eyou, dad
You Gknow I'm gonna G/F#be like Eyou
[Chorus]
And the Ecats in the cradle and the Dsilver spoon
GLittle boy blue and the mAan in the moon
EWhen you coming home Dad, I Ddon't know when
GBut we'll get together thEen
GYou know we'll have a goEod time then.
[Verse 2]
My Eson turned ten just the Gother day
He said Athanks for the ball dad, c'Emon let's play
Can you Eteach me to throw, I said "Gnot today;  
I got a Alot to do", he said "Ethat's okay"
And he, Dhe walked aD/C#way but his D/Bsmile never D/Adimmed, he said
D/G"I'm gonna D/F#be like Ehim, yeah
You Gknow I'm gonna G/F#be like Ehim"
[Chorus]
And the Ecats in the cradle and the Dsilver spoon
GLittle boy blue and the mAan in the moon
EWhen you comin' home Dad, I Ddon't know when
Gbut we'll get togetEher then
Gyou know we'll have a good time Ethen.
[Verse 3]
Well, he Ecame home college just the Gother day
So Amuch like a man, I just Ehad to say
"Son I'm Eproud of you, can you Gsit for a while?"
He Ashook his head and he sEaid with a smile
"What I'd Dreally like D/C#Dad is to D/Bborrow the cD/Aar keys.
  D/GSee you D/F#later, can I Ehave them please?"
[Chorus]
And the Ecats in the cradle and the Dsilver spoon
GLittle boy blue and the mAan in the moon
EWhen you comin' home son, I Ddon't know when
GWe'll get together Ethen Dad
GYou know we'll have a good time Ethen.
[Interlude]
C D Bm E      C D Bm E
[Bridge]
EI've long since retired, my sGon's moved away
AI called him up juEst the other day
EI said "I'd like to see you if yoGu don't mind"
AHe said "I'd love to dad iEf I could find the time"
You see, Dmy new job's a hasD/C#sle and the kiD/Bd's have the D/Aflu
D/GBut it's sure nicD/F#e talkin' to Eyou dad
GIt's been suG/F#re nice talkin' tEo you
DAnd as I hung up D/C#the phone it D/Boccurred to D/Ame
D/GHe'd grown D/F#up just like Eme
GMy boy was G/F#just like Eme
[Chorus]
And the Ecats in the cradle and the Dsilver spoon
GLittle boy blue and the mAan in the moon
EWhen you comin' home son, I Ddon't know when
GWe'll get together Ethen Dad
GYou know we'll have a good time Ethen.

All chords in this song (12)

Open

O221OO

Major chord - Happy, bright sound

✕ Mute Open Press

Skill · find home

E mixolydian

This chord is home. When a line ends, land here.

Cats In The Cradle

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Cats In The Cradle

by Harry Chapin

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 1 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

D/C#

D/B

D/A

D/G

D/F#

G/F#

Capo First Fret

Key of F

[Verse 1]

E G

A 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 learned to walk while I was away

D D/C# D/B D/A

And he was talkin 'fore I knew it and as he grew he'd say

D/G D/F# E

I'm gonna be like you, dad

G G/F# E

You know I'm gonna be like you

[Chorus]

E D

And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon

G A

Little boy blue and the man in the moon

E D

When you coming home Dad, I don't know when

G E

But we'll get together then

G E

You know we'll have a good time then.

[Verse 2]

E G

My son turned ten just the other day

A E

He said thanks for the ball dad, c'mon 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 okay"

D D/C# D/B D/A

And he, he walked away but his smile never dimmed, he said

D/G D/F# E

"I'm gonna be like him, yeah

G G/F# E

You know I'm gonna be like him"

[Chorus]

E D

And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon

G A

Little boy blue and the man in the moon

E D

When you comin' home Dad, I don't know when

G E

but we'll get together then

G E

you know we'll have a good time then.

[Verse 3]

E G

Well, he came home 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 he said with a smile

D D/C# D/B D/A

"What I'd really like Dad is to borrow the car keys.

D/G D/F# E

See you later, can I have them please?"

[Chorus]

E D

And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon

G A

Little boy blue and the man in the moon

E D

When you comin' home son, I don't know when

G E

We'll get together then Dad

G E

You know we'll have a good time then.

[Interlude]

C D Bm E C D Bm E

[Bridge]

E G

I've long since retired, my son's moved away

A E

I called him up just the other day

E G

I said "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"

A E

He said "I'd love to dad if I could find the time"

D D/C# D/B D/A

You see, my new job's a hassle and the kid's have the flu

D/G D/F# E

But it's sure nice talkin' to you dad

G G/F# E

It's been sure nice talkin' to you

D D/C# D/B D/A

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me

D/G D/F# E

He'd grown up just like me

G G/F# E

My boy was just like me

[Chorus]

E D

And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon

G A

Little boy blue and the man in the moon

E D

When you comin' home son, I don't know when

G E

We'll get together then Dad

G E

You know we'll have a good time then.

About Cats In The Cradle Chords by Harry Chapin

Learn how to play Cats In The Cradle by Harry Chapin with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Cats In The Cradle chords”, “Cats In The Cradle guitar chords”, or “Harry Chapin Cats In The Cradle chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Cats In The Cradle chords and for experienced players who want accurate Cats In The Cradle lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, E, G, A, D, D/C#.

FAQ — Cats In The Cradle by Harry Chapin

How do I play "Cats In The Cradle" by Harry Chapin on guitar?

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What key is "Cats In The Cradle" in?

The chords for "Cats In The Cradle" show the original chord names (including F, E, G, A, D, D/C#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.