Cats in the cradle　Harry Chapin

A 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 talking 'fore I knew it
And as he grew, he said :
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 coming home? dad
I don't know when
But we'll have a good time 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 okay
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
It said I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him

Well he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
Son I'm proud of you, can we 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 coming home? dad
I don't know when
But we'll have a good time 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 could find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and the kids got the flu
But it's been sure nice talking to you, yeah
Sure nice talking to you
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me, yeah
My boy was just like me

摇篮里的猫哈利却宾

有个孩子在某一天到来
以寻常的方式来到这个世界
但我得忙着赶飞机和付帐单
他在我离家时学会走路
在我知道以前就学会了说话
当他渐渐长大，他说：
"爸，我将来要像你一样
 我将来要像你一样 "

小猫和银色汤匙待在摇篮里
小男孩忧伤时，男人却在月球上
"爸，你什么时候回来？"
"我不知道，
但我们将会共度一段美好时光，儿子
我们会共度一段美好时光"

有一天我儿子满十岁了，他说：
"谢谢你送我棒球，爸，我们来玩！
 你能教我投球吗？"
我说："今天不行，我有事要忙。"
他说："没关系！"
然后走开，依然笑嘻嘻的
好象说：我将来要像他一样
我将来要像他一样

有一天他从大学回来
我只能说他看起来就像个男人一样
"孩子，我为你感到骄傲，坐下来谈谈好吗？"
他摇摇头，笑着说：
"爸，我想跟你借汽车钥匙，
 待会儿再说，可以借我吗？"

小猫和银色汤匙待在摇篮里
小男孩忧伤时，男人却在月球上
"爸，你什么时候回来？"
"我不知道，
 但我们将会共度一段美好时光，儿子
 我们会共度一段美好时光"

我已退休多年，儿子也搬出去了
有一天我打电话给他
我说：如果不打扰的话，我想看看你
他说：我也想啊！爹，但实在抽不出空来
我的新工作一团糟，孩子又得了流行性感冒
但很高兴能和你讲电话
很高兴能和你聊聊
挂上电话，我心里有个念头：
他长大后果然像我
我儿子就和我一样

　1981年于车祸中丧生的民谣歌手哈利却宾写过不少脍炙人口的歌曲，其中最令人动容的曲子，首推半自传半虚构、描述父子之情的“摇篮里的猫 ”。
　哈利的儿子出生时，正是他最走红的时候，每天有赶不完的场，做不完的秀，哪有时间在家陪儿子？于是他错过了儿子学走路踏出的第一步，也错过了儿子学会说的第一句话。
　可是若不这么拼命的话，孩子怎会有好日子过呢？于是在这个看似冠冕堂皇的理由之下，哈利又错过了教儿子打棒球的机会，再回首，儿子已经成为大学生。
　这时哈利总算清闲下来了，希望多陪陪宝贝儿子。可是儿子放假回来老是借了车子出去兜风 ，不怎么能体会爸爸孤单的心情。过了几年，儿子毕了业，有了工作，有了自己的家，见面机会就更少了，顶多是在电话里聊聊近况。
　当老爸用近乎哀求的语气，叫儿子回来一趟聚一聚，儿子却以工作忙、小孩生病等理由来搪塞。这时哈利才领悟到：原来这场家庭悲剧，是自己一手导演出来的，只是，谁能让时间倒流呢？