Originally in A capo 8 (F), I play in A capo 6
Intro, a chord approximation of the riff
| Asus2 | Asus4 | Dsus2/A | G/A | A |
| A | C | |
| My | child arrived just the | other day |
| D | A | |
| He | came to 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 | G/B | A | |
| He’d say | I’m gonna | be like | you, Dad |
| C | G/B | A | |
| You | know I’m gonna | be like | you |
Don’t go up an octave yet
| 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 |
| When you comin’ home Dad? |
| G | C | G/B | A | |
| I | don’t know when but | we’ll get to | gether then |
| C | G/B | A | |
| You | know we’ll have a | good time | then |
| Asus2 | Asus4 | Dsus2/A | G/A | A |
| 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 | |
| Can you | teach me to throw? |
| C | D | |
| I said, | not today, I got a | lot to do |
| A | |
| He said, | that’s okay |
| G | G/F# | Em7 | Em/D | |
| And he, | he walked a | way, but his | smile never | dimmed |
| C | G/B | A | |
| It said, | I’m gonna | be like | him, yeah |
| C | G/B | A | |
| You | know I’m gonna | be like | him |
OK, now go up an octave, you know you want to
| 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 |
| When you comin’ home Dad? |
| G | C | G/B | A | |
| I | don’t know when but | we’ll get to | gether then |
| C | G/B | A | |
| You | know we’ll have a | good time | then |
| Asus2 | Asus4 | Dsus2/A | G/A | A |
| A | C | |
| Well, he | came 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 ca | r keys |
| C | G/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 |
| When you comin’ home son? |
| G | C | G/B | A | |
| I | don’t know when but | we’ll get to | gether then | , Dad |
| C | G/B | A | |
| You | know we’ll have a | good time | then |
| F | G | Em | A |
| → |
| F | G | Em | A |
| → |
Slow, let ring
| A | C | |
| I’ve | long since retired, my | son’s moved away |
Two extra beats after this line
| 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 f | lu |
| C | G/B | A | |
| But it’s | sure nice | talkin’ to | you, Dad |
| C | G/B | A | |
| It’s been | sure nice | talkin’ to | you |
| G | G/F# | Em7 | Em/D | |
| And as I | hung up the | phone it | occured to m | e |
| C | G/B | A | |
| He’d | grown up | just like | me |
| C | G/B | A | |
| My | boy was | just like | me |
Back to tempo
| 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 |
| When you comin’ home son? |
| G | C | G/B | A | |
| I | don’t know when but | we’ll get to | gether then | , Dad |
| C | G/B | A | |
| We’re | gonna have a | good time | then |
| Asus2 | Asus4 | Dsus2/A | G/A | A |