Cats In The Cradle Chords & Guitar Lesson
Welcome to my Cats In The Cradle chords and guitar lesson by Harry Chapin. This is such a great song. One I know I heard on the radio many times.
It has a really great story line to it and it a lot of fun to play on the guitar.
This version is a simplified version to allow players to strum along with the recording. I will also the discuss a special walkdown you can introduce when you are ready.
Let's get started!
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Cats In The Cradle Guitar Chords:
Cats In The Cradle Strumming Patterns:
Strum Verse:
1 + 2 +a 3 + 4 + a
D DDU D DD U
Strum Chorus:
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
DU DU DU DU DU DU DU DU
Cats In The Cradle Guitar Lesson:
Video lesson coming soon!
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Cats In The Cradle Chord Chart:
Capo 1 st Fret
INTRO:
E (3/4) E (4/4) E E
VERSE:
|E G|
A child arrived just the other day
|A E
He came to the world in the usual way
|E G|
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
|A E|
He learned to walk while I was away
|D D/C# D/B D/A
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it and as he grew he'd say
|D/G D/F# E - |
"I'm gonna be like you, Dad
|G G/F E - |(2/4) E
You know I'm gonna be like you"
CHORUS:
|E D|
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
|G A|
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
|E D|
When you coming home Dad, I don't know when
|G E|
But we'll get together then
|G E| E (3/4) E (4/4) E
You know we'll have a good time then
VERSE:
|E G|
My son turned ten just the other day
|A E|
He said "Thanks for the ball, Dad, c'mon, let's play
|E G|
Can you teach me to throw?" I said "Not today;
|A E|
I got a lot to do," he said "That's okay"
|D D/C# D/B D/A
And he, he walked away but his smile never dimmed, he said
|D/G D/F# E - |
"I'm gonna be like him, yeah
|G G/F# E -| (2/4) E
You know I'm gonna be like him"
CHORUS:
|E D|
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
|G A|
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
|E D|
When you coming home Dad, I don't know when
|G E|
But we'll get together then
|G E| E (3/4) E (4/4) E
You know we'll have a good time then
VERSE:
|E G|
Well, he came from college just the other day
|A E|
So much like a man, I just had to say
|E G|
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
|A E|
He shook his head and he said with a smile
|D D/C# D/B D/A|
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys.
|D/G D/F# E -| (2/4) E
See you later, can I have them please?"
CHORUS:
|E D|
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
|G A|
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
|E D|
When you coming home Dad, I don't know when
|G E|
But we'll get together then
|G E|
You know we'll have a good time then
INTERLUDE:
|C - D Bm | E | C - D Bm | E E
BRIDGE:
|E G|
I've long since retired, my son's moved away
|A E|
I called him up just the other day
|E G|
I said "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
|A E| (2/4) E
He said "I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time
| D D/C# D/B D/A|
You see, my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu
|D/G D/F# E - |
But it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad
|G G/F# E - | (2/4) E
It's been sure nice talkin' to you"
|D D/C# D/B D/A|
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
|D/G D/F# E - |
He'd grown up just like me
|G G/F# E -| (2/4) E
My boy was just like me
CHORUS:
|E D|
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
|G A|
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
|E D|
When you coming home Dad, I don't know when
|G E|
But we'll get together then
|G E| E (3/4) E (4/4) E
You know we'll have a good time then
This file is the author’s own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It’s intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
We do not distribute printable chord and lyrics charts. These charts are here only to support online learning. We highly recommend buying music from Hal Leonard or a reputable online sheet music store.