Should ‘Cat’s In The Cradle’ make you cry?
By The Editors
PlannedMan

I want to find out how many guys get tears in their eyes every time they hear Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s In The Cradle.” Even Chapin himself had mixed feelings about it, relative to his relationship with his own son: “Frankly, this song scares me to death.”

Hey, Boss, can we take a poll here?

I want to find out how many guys get tears in their eyes every time they hear Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s In The Cradle.”

It never happens to me, but that’s because every time I hear those first few notes, I immediately turn off the song and say, “Alexa, play me ‘Born to be Wild’.” She always obeys, that girl.

Am I a real man for doing that or a cold, heartless SOB?

First, this informal “Cradle” survey from YouTube listeners:

But why do some get teary-eyed when hearing this song, while others turn this song off as soon as they can?

It would be interesting to find out how Chapin’s son, Josh, feels about the song.

My bet is Josh, like a lot of us, stuffs or chokes down a lot of painful memories whenever he thinks about his father—similar to those whose dads have died, have been abandoned or are simply indifferent to us.

I hope most guys hear the song, sing along cheerfully and maybe cry just a bit as if it hearkens cherished memories of their own fathers.

Even Chapin himself, for the record, had mixed feelings about it, relative to his relationship with his own son: “Frankly, this song scares me to death.”

“Cat’s In The Cradle” might have also reminded Harry of his own father—a legendary jazz drummer on the road a lot—who divorced Harry’s mother when the musician was only eight-years-old. Harry’s mom was given full custody of him and his three brothers.

“It’s hard to have a gun fight, with tears in your eyes.”

Finally, to bring this back to YouTube: 10,537 people (as of this review) have left comments on this song. I’ve not read them all, but the ones I read describe the song being comparable to being gut-punched repeatedly then wanting to cry.

You can check out more on Harry Chapin below:

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