[Verse 1]

  E                      G
A child arrived just the other day
A                        E
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
He was talking 'fore I knew it and as he grew he said,
 G                 E
"I'm gonna be like you, dad,
    G                      E
You know I'm gonna be like you"


[Chorus]

    E                          D
The cats in the cradle and the silver spoon
 G                     A
Little boy blue and a man on the moon
E                         D
When you comin' home son, I don't know when
G           D/F#       E
We'll get together then,
    G                 D/F#      E
You know we'll have a good time then


[Verse 2]

         E                       G
Well, my son turned ten just the other day
         A                             E
He said "Thanks for the ball dad, come on, let's play
          E                           G
Could you teach me to throw?", I said "Not today
        A                    E
I got a lot to do", he said "That's OK"
       D
And he, he walked away and he smiled and he said, you know
 G                 E
"I'm gonna be like him, yeah,
    G                      E
You know I'm gonna be like him"


[Chorus]

    E                          D
The cats in the cradle and the silver spoon
 G                     A
Little boy blue and a man on the moon
E                         D
When you comin' home son, I don't know when
G           D/F#       E
We'll get together then,
    G                 D/F#      E
You know we'll have a good time then


[Verse 3]

         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
I'm proud of you, could you sit for a while
   A                      E
He shook his head and he said with a smile
         D
What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
G                      E
  See you later, can I have them please?


[Chorus]

    E                          D
The cats in the cradle and the silver spoon
 G                     A
Little boy blue and a man on the moon
E                         D
When you comin' home son, I don't know when
G           D/F#       E
We'll get together then,
    G                 D/F#      E
You know we'll have a good time then


[Bridge]

Three parts simultaneously
Electric guitar

C  D B  E
C  D B  E


[Verse 4]

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'd like to see you, if you don't mind
 A                          E
He said: I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
         D
You see, my new job a hassle and the kids have the flu,
 G                             E
But it's sure nice talking to you dad,
G                     E
It's been sure nice talkin' to you


[Verse 5]

       D
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
 G                      E
He'd grown up just like me
G                     E
My boy was just like me!


[Chorus]

    E                          D
The cats in the cradle and the silver spoon
 G                     A
Little boy blue and a man on the moon
E                         D
When you comin' home son, I don't know when
G           D/F#       E
We'll get together then,
    G                 D/F#      E
You know we'll have a good time then