"Harry wrote exactly the right upbeat melody over a sad lyric, and it was very catchy and repeatable so people could sing it," she said. "The other thing is there is probably a twitch in people's brains from their childhood, a familiarity. It was a happy combination of circumstances." When Harry's album "Verities and Balderdash" was about to be released, David Geffen, the interim president of Geffen Records, selected "Cat's in the Cradle" as the album's lead single.
"Harry came home and told me that, and I said you can't do that; it's ridiculous. That song will only appeal to 45-year-old men, and they don't buy records", said Sandy. The song went to number one, and it was Harry's only number one record. "It just goes to show how wrong you can be," she added. "I think the reason people responded and continue to respond is because it is a real life story, and everybody has a piece of that experience," said Sandy.
"We still get letters about that song today. Parents responded by deciding they were going to do better and be home for their kids more. The whole point of the story is that we learn our lessons in life by making mistakes, by trial and error, by experience," she said, adding, "It would be great if we could learn about the future ahead of time, but we have to learn the hard way. It's like the old saying – too old too soon, too wise too late." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%27s_in_the_Cradle
@Sid_Bonkers The older you get (so, the closer you get to the age of the father in this), the more painful it gets to listen to them and take them in for what they are, comparing them to your own experiences of father/son-hood. I'm okay with what my father and I have, and what my children and I have (and grandchildren!). Pop is still going well at 92 years old.
10 Comments (since 18 Jun 2014)
leejohnson
[YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUwjNBjqR-c Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/lee.johnson.2000/posts/10152512791299295] Live up-tempo version. This was a 1974 release by Chapin, not featuring in the UK (although championed heavily by British DJ Noel Edmonds) which became his only US No. 1 hit, and his wife, Sandy, who wrote the poem forming the basis of the song, is quoted on Deacon Greg Kandra's blog (patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/):
leejohnson
"Harry wrote exactly the right upbeat melody over a sad lyric, and it was very catchy and repeatable so people could sing it," she said. "The other thing is there is probably a twitch in people's brains from their childhood, a familiarity. It was a happy combination of circumstances." When Harry's album "Verities and Balderdash" was about to be released, David Geffen, the interim president of Geffen Records, selected "Cat's in the Cradle" as the album's lead single.
leejohnson
"Harry came home and told me that, and I said you can't do that; it's ridiculous. That song will only appeal to 45-year-old men, and they don't buy records", said Sandy. The song went to number one, and it was Harry's only number one record. "It just goes to show how wrong you can be," she added. "I think the reason people responded and continue to respond is because it is a real life story, and everybody has a piece of that experience," said Sandy.
leejohnson
"We still get letters about that song today. Parents responded by deciding they were going to do better and be home for their kids more. The whole point of the story is that we learn our lessons in life by making mistakes, by trial and error, by experience," she said, adding, "It would be great if we could learn about the future ahead of time, but we have to learn the hard way. It's like the old saying – too old too soon, too wise too late." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%27s_in_the_Cradle
lynn200
his words are so true...i still live to learn,achieve,fail,win.. remember this song so well,great choice.
mikelowe
A great songsmith. Thanks for the Jam
pez
Great song.
Sid_Bonkers
Dont know that I ever really listened to the lyrics before today!!
leejohnson
@Sid_Bonkers The older you get (so, the closer you get to the age of the father in this), the more painful it gets to listen to them and take them in for what they are, comparing them to your own experiences of father/son-hood. I'm okay with what my father and I have, and what my children and I have (and grandchildren!). Pop is still going well at 92 years old.
logiegreen
Great Jam. Loved his 'Greatest Stories Live'. Gone far too early.