"Cats in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin

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
And he was talkin' '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 on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
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
And 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home 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 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
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 said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have 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 on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

The song had a revival in 1993 when it was redone by Ugly Kid Joe. View on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3bht7S-3...

The term also refers to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and is based on the superstitious belief that a cat allowed in a cradle would sit on an infant's chest and suck the breath out of them causing them to die thus "loving them to death." Literally.

Just in case you're curious, the "silver spoon" is referring to the father trying to give his family the best he can by working hard. "Little boy blue and the man on the moon", in this case, is the child being sad over not seeing his father yet idolizing him and wanting to be like him someday. Later it refers to the father being sad because his son no longer has time for him but proud of the kid nonetheless.

In reality, it reflected Chapin's own strained relationship with his father.

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

It means "the family/child is at home" and was popularized in the song "Cats in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin (which was extremely popular back in the late 70's, and is still considered a masterpiece).

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLzMw5hKo...

The song told (in ham-handed fashion) of a father who had no time to spend with his son because he was always busy working. The son subsequently grew up to ignore the old man in a cosmic karma payback sort of thing.