A 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
We'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, thanks for the ball dad, come on 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
You know we'll have a good time then
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 dad is to 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 son I don't know when
We'll have a good time then, dad
You know we'll have a good time then
♪
Now, I've 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 could find the time
My new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad
It's sure nice talking to you"
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 dad I don't know when
We'll get together then, dad
We're gonna have a good time then