TOP 20 SONGS WITH UNEXPECTED TWISTS
This post: #10- CAT'S IN THE CRADLE.
Continues tomorrow.

Caffè Lattè looks back on:

SONGS WITH UNEXPECTED

TWISTS

1974

CAT’S IN THE CRADLE

HARRY CHAPIN

The song begins with  the birth of the protagonist’s son. Work commitments prevent him from being around for the infant’s firsts such as learning to walk. As the song progresses, the child grows up. There are still limitations on the father’s time with his son. The boy’s requests to play ball with his dad are denied by the busy parent. When the son graduates, the father finally has time. He hopes his son can spend some time with him, but the graduate has plans. Years pass. The father is now retired. His son has moved away and has a family of his own now. When the father calls him to arrange a catch-up, the son is now too busy with work and sick children. By the end of the song, things have gone full circle. Now it is the son who hopes to find time in the day for his father.