My child arrived just the other day He 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 And he was talkin' fore I knew it and as he grew He'd say, 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 in the Moon When you comin' home, dad 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 walked away but his smile never dimmed said 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 in the Moon When you comin' home dad I don't know when But we'll get together then You know, we'll have a good time then 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 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 in the Moon When you comin' home son I don't know when But we'll get together then, dad You know, we'll have a good time then Now I've 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 can find the time My new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu But, nice talkin' to you, dad It's sure nice talkin' to you And as I hung up the phone it occured 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 in the Moon When you comin' home son I don't know when But we'll get together then, dad You know we'll have a good time then