As published in "Harry Chapin: A Legacy in Song" (c) 1987 Cherry Lane Music Co., Inc. IMHO, this is a better version that the simplified version that was/is on ftp.nevada.edu.
TAB: each space represents an eigth note
The music says CAPO 8 (key of F) but I usually play it CAPO 5 (key of D), since that's in my range.
INTRO:
A(no 3rd)
e|--0-0---|20------|--------|----|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
B|--------|--0-3---|0----0--|--0-|--------|--------|------0-|--------|--------|
G|2-------|---2----|---2----|0---|2-------|20------|----0---|2-------|--------|
D|--------|--------|--------|----|----2---|--2-0---|--------|--------|--------|
A|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|---3--3-|0-------|--------|--------|
E|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
A C
My child arrived just the other day;
D A
he came into the world in the usual way.
A C
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
D A
He learned to walk while I was away.
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it. And as he grew
C Em/B A C Em/B A
he'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, Dad. You know I'm gonna be like you."
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
C D
little boy blue and the man in the moon.
A G
"When you comin' home Dad?" "I don't know when,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but we'll get together then, Son. You know we'll have a good time then."
A(no 3rd)
e|--0-0---|20------|--------|----|--------|
B|--------|--0-3---|0----0--|--0-|--------|
G|2-------|---2----|---2----|0---|2-------|
D|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
A|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
E|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
A C
My son turned ten just the other day.
D A
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come on, let's play.
A C
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today.
D A
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's okay."
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed.
C Em/B A C Em/B A
It said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah. You know I'm gonna be like him."
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
C D
little boy blue and the man in the moon.
A G
"When you comin' home Dad?" "I don't know when,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but we'll get together then, Son. You know we'll have a good time then."
A(no 3rd)
e|--0-0---|20------|--------|----|--------|
B|--------|--0-3---|0----0--|--0-|--------|
G|2-------|---2----|---2----|0---|2-------|
D|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
A|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
E|--------|--------|--------|----|--------|
A C
Well, he came home from college just the other day,
D A
so much like a man I just had to say,
A C
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
D A
He shook his head and he said with a smile,
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys.
C Em/B A
See you later. Can I have them please?"
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
C D
little boy blue and the man in the moon.
A G
"When you comin' home Son?" "I don't know when,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but we'll get together then, Dad. You know we'll have a good time then."
F G Em A
F G Em A
(Slower)
A C
I've long since retired, my son's moved away.
D A
I called him up just the other day.
A C
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
D A
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time.
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
You see, my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad. It's been sure nice talkin' to you."
G G/F# Em7 Em/D
And as I hung up the phone it occured to me,
C Em/B A(no 3rd) C Em/B A
he'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.
(Tempo I)
A G
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
C D
little boy blue and the man in the moon.
A G
"When you comin' home Son?" "I don't know when,
C Em/B A C Em/B A
but we'll get together then, Dad, we're gonna have a good time then."
A(no 3rd) A
e|--0-0---|20------|--------|----|0-------|--------|
B|--------|--0-3---|0----0--|--0-|2-------|--------|
G|2-------|---2----|---2----|0---|2-------|--------|
D|--------|--------|--------|----|2-------|--------|
A|--------|--------|--------|----|0-------|--------|
E|--------|--------|--------|----|0-------|--------|