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 said, "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"
"We'll get together then
We're gonna have a good time then"
My son turned ten the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, c'mon let's play"
"Can you teach me to throw?", I said, "Not today"
"I got a lot to do", he said, "That's okay"
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed
He said, "I'm gonna be like him", yeah
"You know, I'm gonna be like him"
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"
"We'll get together then"
"We're gonna have a good time then"
♪
Well, he came 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 he said with a smile
"What I'd really like to do, dad, is borrow the car keys"
"See you later, can I have them please?"
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"
"We'll get together then"
"We're gonna have a good time then"
♪
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 can 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
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 coming home, son?", "I don't know when"
"But we'll get together then, dad"
"We're gonna have a good time then"