My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and there were bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking ‘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 in the moon
“When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when
We’ll get together then, son, you know we’ll have a good time then”
When my son turned ten just the other day
Said, “Thanks for the ball, dad, come on and let’s play
Can you teach me to throw?” I said, “Not today
I got a lot to do” he said, “That’s okay”
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
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 in the moon
“When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when
We’ll get together then, son, you know we’ll have a good time then”
Well, he came 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 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?”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then, dad, We’re gonna have a good time then”
Well, I’ve long since retired and my son’s moved away
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 could find the time”
“You see, my new job’s a hassle and the kid’s got 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
Yeah, and the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then, dad, we’re gonna have a good time then”
Prevod pesme
Maca je u kolevci
Dobio sam dete pre neki dan
Stigao je na svet na uobičajen način
Ali mene su čekali letovi i računi koje je trebalo platiti
Naučio je da hoda dok sam bio odsutan
I dok sam se okrenuo, već je progovorio i dok je odrastao
on je govorio, “Ja ću biti kao ti, tata
Znaš, ja ću biti kao ti”
A u kolevci je maca i srebrna kašičica*
Mali dečak tužan, a na mesecu čovek
“Kad dolaziš kući, tata?” “Ne znam kad
videćemo se tad, sine, znaš da će nam biti lepo tad”
Kad je moj sin napunio deset, baš pre neki dan
Rekao je, “Hvala na lopti, tata, hajde da se igramo
Možeš li da me naučiš kako da bacam?” ja rekoh, “Ne danas
imam puno posla” on reče, “Nema veze”
I odšetao je ali njegov osmeh nije bledeo
Rekao je, “Ja ću biti kao on, da
Znaš, ja ću biti kao on”
A u kolevci je maca i srebrna kašičica
Mali dečak tužan, a na mesecu čovek
“Kad dolaziš kući, tata?” “Ne znam kad
videćemo se tad, sine, znaš da će nam biti lepo tad”
Pa, došao je sa koledža baš pre neki dan
Baš kao pravi muškarac, morao sam da kažem
“Sine, ponosam sam na tebe, možeš li sesti na kratko?”
Odmahnuo je glavom i uz osmeh rekao
“Ono što bih stvarno voleo, tata, je da mi pozajmiš kola
Vidimo se posle
Hoćeš li mi dati ključeve, molim te?”
A u kolevci je maca i srebrna kašičica
Mali dečak tužan, a na mesecu čovek
“Kad dolaziš kući, sine?” “Ne znam kad
ali videćemo se tad, tata, biće nam lepo tad”
Pa, sad sam već odavno u penziji a moj sin se odselio
Baš pre neki dan sam ga zvao
pa rekao “Voleo bih da te vidim ako nemaš ništa protiv”
Rekao je, “Voleo bih, tata, kad bih vremena imao”
“Znaš, moj novi posao je ludnica a mali ima gripu
Ali, stvarno mi je drago što smo se čuli, tata
Stvarno mi je drago što smo se čuli”
I dok sam spuštao slušalicu, sine mi
Postao je isti kao ja
Moj dečak je isti ja
A u kolevci je maca i srebrna kašičica
Mali dečak tužan, a na mesecu čovek
“Kad dolaziš kući, sine?” “Ne znam kad
ali videćemo se tad, tata, biće nam lepo tad”
*Internet je preplavljen pokušajima tumačenja “mačke u kolevci“, pri čemu je, po nekima, to simbol porodice na okupu, dok, po drugima, mačka u kolevci i nije baš najbezbednija za bebu.. Pojedini čak ovaj izraz povezuju sa igrom sa lastišem koja se zove cats cradle.. Bilo kako bilo, maca je u kolevci, a tumačenje ostavljam vama…
Izraz “born with a silver spoon in mouth“, u bukvalnom prevodu – rođen sa srebrnom kašičicom u ustima, znači biti rođen bogat, privilegovan
Ugly Kid Joe – Cat’s in the Cradle