"Cat's in the Cradle" is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album Verities & Balderdash. The single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1974. As Chapin's only number-one song, it became the best known of his work and a staple for folk rock music. Chapin's recording of the song was nominated for the 1975 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. In 1992 American rock bandUgly Kid Joe covered the song and released it as a single; their version topped the Australian Singles Chart and became a major hit in several other countries, including Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the United States.
Background
The song's lyrics began as a poem written by Harry's wife, Sandra "Sandy" Gaston; the poem itself was inspired by the awkward relationship between her first husband, James Cashmore, and his father, John, a politician who served as Brooklyn borough president. She was also inspired by a country music song she had heard on the radio. Chapin also said the song was about his own relationship with his son, Josh, admitting, "Frankly, this song scares me to death."
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Position
Australia
51
US Billboard Hot 100
38
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Ugly Kid Joe version
In 1992, American hard rock band Ugly Kid Joe included a cover of the song, renamed "Cats in the Cradle", on their debut album America's Least Wanted. The cover was issued as a single in 1993 and peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, the group's highest position on that chart. The song also peaked at number three on the BillboardAlbum Rock Tracks chart. The single sold 500,000 copies domestically, earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Worldwide, the cover peaked at number one in Australia for a week and reached the top five in Iceland, Ireland, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as number seven on the UK Singles Chart.
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Other versions
Johnny Cash made his own version in his album Boom Chika Boom.
In 1975, Norwegian singer and composer Finn Kalvik recorded a Norwegian version of the song as "Ride ranke". The single reached number 10 on the Norwegian singles chart.
Ricky Skaggs recorded a version for his 1995 album Solid Ground
In 1993 a version of the song was used in an anti-paramilitary advert commissioned by the Northern Ireland Office titled “I Wanna Be Like You”.
A version of this song was recorded as "Just Like Me" by DMC featuring Sarah McLachlan. This version used the same melody and almost the same chorus lyrics, but with entirely revised lyrics in the verses so as to make the song about DMC's adoption and feelings towards his birth mother. The recording appeared on DMC's 2006 album Checks Thugs and Rock n Roll as well as McLachlan's 2008 compilation Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff Volume 2.
The episode "Wake Up Time" of Cougar Town, opens with the song playing during a game of "Emotional chicken", where "whoever cries to the song first loses". Ellie and Jules are trying to get tears out of remorse from respectively Bobby and Andy, both dads, by talking them into relating to the lyrics.
In the episode "St. Patrick's Day" of The Office , Dwight Schrute uses the song to lay a guilt trip on Jim Halpert for returning to work while his wife and newborn are at home.
The song is central to the theme of The Goldbergs episode, “In Conclusion – Thanksgiving".
Donkey sings a snatch of this song in Shrek the Third after Shrek learns he's going to be a father.
In the episode "Seasonal Help" of Superstore, Garrett McNeil uses the song to try to get a new father to quit his seasonal job, in an attempt to win a bet.
A version of the song is featured in the enhanced versions of the 2013 game Grand Theft Auto V on the in-game radio station, Los Santos Rock Radio.
The song was used for New Animated official trailer & 9 TV spots 2019 film Paradoria 2: Enchanted Realm
The song also features in The Middle episode "The Christmas Tree".
In the Family Guy episode The Son Also Draws, a group of anthropomorphic trees that are figments of Peter's imagination sing the chorus as he reconciles with his son Chris.
In the episode "Dyeing is Easy, Comedy is Hard" of Will & Grace, Jack McFarland quotes part of the lyrics when Bonnie, the mother of his son, forbids Jack to see him.
In The Simpsons episode Saturdays of Thunder Homer called the father/son helpline, is put on hold, and the song starts playing. Naturally, Homer breaks down in tears.
