judy collins-cats in the cradle Lyrics

my child arrived just the other day
he came to the world in the usual way
but there were planes to catch
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 cats in the cradle and the silver spoon little boy blue and the man in the moon when you comin’ home? i don’t know when we’ll get together then son you know we’ll have a good time then my child turned ten 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” he turned away but his smile never dimmed “i’m gonna be like him” he said “yes i’m going to be like him” and the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon little boy blue and the man in the moon when you comin’ home? i don’t know when we’ll get together then son you know we’ll have a good time then when he came from college the other day so much like a man i just had to say “i’m proud of you son will you sit for a while?” he shook his head and he said with a smile “what i’d really like to do is to borrow the car keys i’ll see you later can i have them please?” and the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon little boy blue and the man in the moon when you comin’ home? i don’t know when we’ll get together then son you know we’ll have a good time then well i’ve long since retired my child 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” he said the new job’s a hassle and the kid’s got the flu but it’s so nice talking to you dad it’s so nice talking to you and as i hung up the phone it occurred to me my boy’s a lot like me my boy’s a lot like me and the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon little boy blue and the man in the moon when you comin’ home? i don’t know when we’ll get together then son you know we’ll have a good time then we’ll get together then son you know we’ll have a good time then”