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Cat's in the Cradle
《Cat's in the Cradle》————Harry Chapin
一个很有才华的创作歌手Harry Chapin，尽管他从来没有在singer & song writer领域占据最显要的位置，但是他却创造了一首也许是他生命中最为人熟知的金曲，就是这首“摇篮里的猫”。歌曲来自他1974年的专集《Verities & Balderdash》中文意思是“事实和梦呓”。这张专集在当年形成大卖的局面，Cat's in the Cradle是最重要的原动力。其实它不象是70年代的民谣，刚听的时候给人的感觉更象是流行金属的风格。我第一次听的时候也是听的Skid Row的翻唱版本，当时就爽得嗷嗷叫，除去对Skid Row非常喜爱的个人感情因素，这首歌确实是难得的作品，而且因为它的容易翻唱性（也不知道我是怎么总结出这么个恶心的定义的）和接近流行金属的旋律，被无数乐队翻唱过，象Ugly Kid Joe，乐队历史上只有一首畅销单曲，还竟然就是这首“摇篮里的猫”！唱过的当然还有Skid Row、Johnny Cash等等大牌，也许是因为歌曲本身太好了，后来的版本都没对它做很大的改动，所以听起来都是差不多的爽。可惜Harry Chapin在1981年就去世了，痛哉斯人，悲哉斯歌……
歌中叙说了一个很简单却很耐人寻味的故事：一个小男孩在接受父亲的礼物——一个球以后，要求父亲和他一起玩，可父亲总是说：“改天吧！”虽然总被拒绝，小男孩还是很崇敬父亲，希望长大可以做父亲那样的人。后来男孩长大了，上了大学、毕业、工作……偶尔去探望父亲的时候，父亲总说：“有空多来陪我，可以和我聊聊。”男孩说他很愿意，但是很忙，所以：“改天吧！”望着男孩离去时的高大背影，父亲感叹：“他真象我……”
歌词：
My child arrived just the other day
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
He was talkin' 'fore I knew it
And as he grew he said,
'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 'n the moon.
'when you comin' home? '
'son, I don't know when. we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then.
Well, my son turned ten just the other day.
He said, 'thanks for the ball, dad. come on, let's play.
Could you teach me to throw?
I said, 'not today. I got a lot to do.
He said, 'that's okay.' and he walked away and he smiled and he said,
'you know, 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 'n the moon.
'when you comin' home? '
'son, I don't know when. 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,
'I'm proud of you. could 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 'n the moon.
'when you comin' home? '
'son, I don't know when. we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then.
I've long since retired, my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
'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 kids have the flu,
But it's sure nice talkin' to you, dad.
It's/been/sure/nice talkin' 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 'n the moon.
'when you comin' home? '
'son, I don't know when. we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then.
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