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Cat's in the Cradle
《Cat's in the Cradle》————Harry Chapin
一個很有才華的創作歌手Harry Chapin，盡管他從來沒有在singer & song writer領域占據最顯要的位置，但是他卻創造了一首也許是他生命中最為人熟知的金曲，就是這首“搖籃裏的貓”。歌曲來自他1974年的專集《Verities & Balderdash》中文意思是“事實和夢囈”。這張專集在當年形成大賣的局麵，Cat's in the Cradle是最重要的原動力。其實它不象是70年代的民謠，剛聽的時候給人的感覺更象是流行金屬的風格。我第一次聽的時候也是聽的Skid Row的翻唱版本，當時就爽得嗷嗷叫，除去對Skid Row非常喜愛的個人感情因素，這首歌確實是難得的作品，而且因為它的容易翻唱性（也不知道我是怎麽總結出這麽個惡心的定義的）和接近流行金屬的旋律，被無數樂隊翻唱過，象Ugly Kid Joe，樂隊曆史上隻有一首暢銷單曲，還竟然就是這首“搖籃裏的貓”！唱過的當然還有Skid Row、Johnny Cash等等大牌，也許是因為歌曲本身太好了，後來的版本都沒對它做很大的改動，所以聽起來都是差不多的爽。可惜Harry Chapin在1981年就去世了，痛哉斯人，悲哉斯歌……
歌中敘說了一個很簡單卻很耐人尋味的故事：一個小男孩在接受父親的禮物——一個球以後，要求父親和他一起玩，可父親總是說：“改天吧！”雖然總被拒絕，小男孩還是很崇敬父親，希望長大可以做父親那樣的人。後來男孩長大了，上了大學、畢業、工作……偶爾去探望父親的時候，父親總說：“有空多來陪我，可以和我聊聊。”男孩說他很願意，但是很忙，所以：“改天吧！”望著男孩離去時的高大背影，父親感歎：“他真象我……”
歌詞：
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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