My child arrived just the other day 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 He was talkin' '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 comin' home? Son, I don't know when, but we'll get together then 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 then he walked away But the smile never dimmed and he said "You know, I'm gonna be like him, yeah You know I'm gonna be like him" And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon Little boy blue and the man on the moon When you comin' home? Son, I don't know when, but we'll get together then You know we'll have a good time then 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 you sit for a while?" He shook his head and he 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 comin' home? Son, I don't know when, but we'll get together then 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 ha**le And the kids have the flu But it's sure nice talkin' to you, dad It's been sure nice talkin' to you" And as I hung up the phone It occurred to me He'd grown up just like me My boy was just like me And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon Little boy blue and the man on the moon When you comin' home? Son, I don't know when, but we'll get together then You know we'll have a good time then