Cat's In The Cradle

Cat's In The Cradle is a popular song by Harry Chapin.

The song is from the standpoint of a father who, whenever his son wants him to do things together (such as teaching him how to throw a ball), is too busy working to do so. Throughout the song, the son says that when he grows up, he will be just like his dad.

Once the son graduates from college, the father wants to spend time with him, but all the son wants is the car keys. Later, the father asks again, only to be told that the son's "new job's a hassle, and the kids have the flu, but it's been nice talking to you", whereupon the father realizes that his son HAS grown up like him, too busy to be together.

A remake of the song by Ugly Kid Joe omits the apostrophe from the song's title.