Cat's in the Cradle 1/4/20

What "Great Song of the '70s" scared its singer/songwriter to death? "Cats in the Cradle."

The lyrics of Harry Chapin's 1974 hit were written by his wife, Sandy, about the the relationship between her first husband and his father: a New York City politician who was never home. What scared Harry? He felt it mirrored the relationship he had with his own son, Josh.

The song also resonated with millions of others--including me. (Ironically, I also have a son named Josh, and I feel the same way about him and my daughters Heather and Holly.)

"Cat's in the Cradle" went to #1 in Canada and the U.S. and was Harry Chapin's biggest hit. The song was nominated for a Grammy, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011...30 years after Harry died way too soon in a 1981 traffic accident at age 38.

TRIVIA: The title refers to Cat's Cradle: an ancient game for children and adults that involved creating string figures, either individually, or by passing a string back and forth between 2 or more players.