Kitt Crescendo was talking about parent/child relationships over at her blog recently, and this song popped into my head. I’ve been listening to it a lot this week and thinking about how fast time goes by and how we often don’t pay the proper attention to our loved ones. If you have kids, spend time with them. Get to know your parents while they’re still here. Life is nothing without good people around us.
“Cats in the Cradle” always gives me goosebumps. It’s a chilling song, but it’s beautiful.
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…
Have a great weekend everyone.
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Emma's Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction 
Totally agree with you, Emma, about spending time with your loved ones. Kids grow up too fast and parents are gone before you know it.
Have always love this song. So true that your kids grow up to be like their parents a lot of times. Not always like you expect them to though.
I think we all need to remember to do it. it’s so easy just to say, “Oh, I’ll catch up with them next week or next Christmas”. Thanks for stopping by, Anya.
That song always makes me sad. Great reminder though.
Some of the best songs have a touch of melancholia to them.
I really like this song a lot, Emma. See…we do have some similar tastes, even if I don’t like Springsteen. LOL
Seriously, this song is so true in many families. I hope my boys felt like I gave them enough time when they were growing up. But my oldest son doesn’t contact me much, so it’s almost like that song after his son grows up. But I KNOW he’s busy…and hasn’t been married that long. Btw, they went to Ireland on their honeymoon last year. 🙂
I know you don’t like Bruce by now 🙂
I like the intro by Harry and how he says the song scares him. It happens so easily in lots of families. And I’m sure your boys know you were there for them! He’s still in the honeymoon phase – he’ll be back 🙂 Wow, that’s quite a trip to make from the States. Do you know what parts they visited?
They stayed at Waterford Castle and another castle in Dublin, but I can’t remember the name of it. I guess they were castles made into hotels. He didn’t like the food. LOL
I’d love to stay in a castle. Oh, I wonder if he was forced to try black pudding or blood sausage as other people call it. That’s one of my favourite things to eat 🙂
I love this song, Emma! It always makes me cry. All I have to do is think about it and the tears flow. It is an important reminder not to waste the time we have. Thanks for sharing.
It definitely tugs at the heartstrings, Christie.
Harry Chapin was such a genius. Along with Jim Croce and James Taylor, he is one of the great storyteller singers that will always live in my heart. Cats in the Cradle is one of those bittersweet songs for me – – I love it, but makes me sad when I listen to it. Isn’t it amazing that a song written so long ago is still true of our hsutble-bustle lives today (maybe even more so)?
Great post, Emma!
I wasn’t familiar with the name Jim Croce so I’ve opened another tab and am listening to him now on Youtube; thanks, Mae.
Cats in the Cradle has stood the test of time.
Very nice….great wake up call..thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Michelle.
Thanks for the shout out! This song haunts your brain once it gets in there. Did you realize that his daughter is also a singer/songwriter? Mary Chapin-Carpenter does some pretty amazing songs, too. If you get a chance, check out her “Grow Old Along With Me” ballad. Like Mae, I’m also big on James Taylor & Jim Croce. “Operator” “Time In A Bottle”
I didn’t know Mary was his daughter! I love her song “Passionate Kisses”. I’ll look up “Grow Old Along with Me”.
Yup! Part of me wondered if he wrote that song for her warning himself of what could happen if he let his career take over, ya know?
Always liked this song. Important message.
Can always count on you finding something good!
Enjoy the weekend!
You too, and thanks 🙂
Even when I was a kid I thought this was a sad, but touching song.
Think my Dad had this on a mix tape and that’s how I first heard it. It was also used in an anti-terrorism TV advert about the troubles in Northern Ireland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAp7MHpaiaQ
the parents also have to make the effort to get to know the kids. that’s what kids need to observe in order to be driven to do the same when they get older – but up towards their parents and down towards their kids.
Yes, it goes both ways.
right. but it has to start with the parents setting examples. to this day i have great trouble saying the words “i love you” because i never once heard them as a kid in my house. and i don’t like celebrating my birthday because as a kid we pretty much didn’t even know when it was our birthday.
We didn’t hear those words in our house growing up either, but we knew we were loved. Hopefully I’ll be better at saying it if I have kids one day, which I hope I will. That’s awful about your birthday.
well, it could have been worse i guess. i was never hit. well, once.
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