A reminder of what used to be and what could be

Cats in the cradle by Ugly Kid Joe is one of my all-time favorite songs. I don’t know how many people know the song, it doesn’t seem to be very popular. But the lyrics and the story are worth checking out, as narrated in its video. Which I only just watched now, come to think of it. And the band vocalist is cute, I gotta mention too. 😉 Here’s the video:

My child arrived just the other day
Came to the world in the usually 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.”

Chorus :
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man on 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.”

Chorus

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?”

Chorus :
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man on 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 dont 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.
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)

Chorus

Being a parent myself now, the song took on a new depth as a painful story being told by the Dad in the song. It was actually quite heart-breaking listening to it just now (but it’s on Repeat mode anyway on my iPod, masochistic much?) because it is such a vivid portrayal of what could and might happen to me and Francine (or any other parent and child) if I get too caught up in the process of providing for my child that I forget who I am doing it all for in the first place. Ouch. Kinda hits too close to home.

On the lighter side, before all the melancholia set in I was actually enjoying the song. It is one of my “comfort” songs actually, an alternative rock song from a beloved era past. Now I feel old. Geez. Anywho, yeah it reminds me of who I was before, that angst-y, perpetually cynical and depressed girl in black shirt and jeans plugged into her iPod as if for life support. Makes me smile now, in a bittersweet way. I miss that girl.