Life turns into a full circle. Situations take different hues, meanings, lyrics and then they turn back and becomes same. A moment ago, things which irked me now became a source of amusement (well sometimes its amazement). One such thing is relationship.
A song which I always liked gives a gist of what I feel – Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. It’s about a father rueing about not spending time with his son when he was supposed to. Now at the winter of his life, when he wants to get back to his son, his son has just turned out to be like him – he didn’t have time to spend. A small trivia – this song was not sung by Cat Stevens first. It was sung by Harry Chappin, an American singer. It was a poem written by Sandy, his wife. He sang this song when his baby was born. There were many covers for this song – Jhonny Cash, Ugly Kid Joe, Mandy Patinkin, Jack Black (Saturday Night Live) and Sarah McLaclan. One of the most inspiring videos of our time (The Ugly kid Joe version), this song has become Nothern Ireland anti-terrorism ad campaigns. Click here (RadioBlog – Cat’s in the Cradle) to listen to it.
A 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 talking ‘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 coming 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 ok.”
And he 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 coming home, dad?” “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 in the moon.
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when,
But we’ll get together then, dad.
You know we’ll have a good time then.”
I’ve long since retired and 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 hassle, and the kid’s got the flu,
But it’s sure nice talking to you, dad.
It’s been sure nice talking 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 in the moon.
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when,
But we’ll get together then, dad.
You know we’ll have a good time then.”
So all that I want to say is – “After a while just sit back & relax, you’ll see the average line emerging out of it. That is ur life, consider that rather than wondering about why each and every point …. ” (Inspired by Kaustubh)
My brother is going to London .. he will be working there for I-don’t-know-how-long. He got one of the most important and coveted jobs in the financial world. He is by far the most intelligent, compassionate and funny person I ever knew (know/will know). But a bit edgy though. He has a wide expanse of knowledge and I always had enriching conversations with him. He is my idol, my friend and my world.
