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Cat's In the Cradle

from Free by wade baynham

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I heard this song a lot growing up, particularly because my father used this song in a slide show that often accompanied his talks to various fundamentalist christian groups. He would start the slide show-- I think the photographs were created by the seminary he attended, and he would play a cassette recording of the song at the same time. A display of high tech in the 1970’s.

I have strong memories of the warble of the tape and the poor sound quality, but the clear voice of Harry Chapin telling this awful story of a father neglecting his relationship with his son, and paying the price in later life as his son is then too busy for his dad. Harry Chapin said in an interview that the song scared him--a lot.

I remember my dad often introducing me around the time he shared this song as his ‘Number one son,’ and then saying that he had kids at home he ‘hadn’t even used yet.’ This got quite a laugh; I don’t find any of this funny now. As I’ve mentioned, the theme of this whole record is the captivity we find ourselves in, and the struggle to find freedom and life itself. Good intentions in relationship don't keep us from destroying those very relationships. For me, this song tells one of those stories.

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from Free, released April 18, 2021
Words and Music by Harry Chapin

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wade baynham Durham, North Carolina

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