"Cat's in the Cradle"是我小時候非常喜歡的一首西洋民謠。

父親忙於工作，連兒子出世、跨出人生的第一步他都無法及時參與及親眼目睹，孩子想找他一起打球，停不下來的父親永遠回答下次再說，「等我有空，我們一定可以玩得很愉快」是忙碌父親無法兌現的諾言。

即使如此，兒子仍舊一心以父親為榜樣。

日子一天天過去，兒子逐漸成大長人，在外求學的他每次返家都來去匆匆。數年後，退休後的父親想要前去探訪已經在外自立門戶的兒子，只聽到電話那頭的兒子回答：「剛換了工作、孩子又生病，改天再說吧！」兒子的口氣和父親當年如出一轍。

失望的父親不禁自嘲：果然是「有其父必有其子」。

這首歌的構想來自已故美國民謠歌手Harry Chapin的妻子Sandy，她是一位詩人兼作家，早在夫妻倆生育兒女前她就寫了這首詞，Sandy把它拿給先生Harry看，後者當時並沒有特別感受。直到兒子Joshua出生，初為人父的Harry這才體會出該首詩詞的真諦，經過修改，成為Harry Chapin最膾炙人口的民謠代表作。

這首民謠曾經被一票歌手及團體翻唱過，包括Johnny Cash、Simon & Garfunkel、Ricky Skaggs、Finn Kalvik、Ugly Kid Joe和Mandy Patinkin等人，還曾經被誤認是另一位民謠男歌手Cat Stevens的作品。

Harry Chapin在1981年死於一場車禍意外，以38歲盛年離開人世。

抽空多陪陪父母和孩子吧！因為再多財富與成就恐怕也換不回錯過的親子時光，更因為生命無常。



〈Cat's in the Cradle〉歌詞

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 talkin' '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 on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
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 ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home 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 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll 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 kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time