Clawhammer Ukulele strumming (standard bum-ditty with drop thumb accompaniment) along with chords and lyrics. If you need help with the clawhammer technique, please watch my Clawhammer Tutorial.

“Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin is a folk-rock song that tells the poignant story of a father and son whose relationship is marked by missed opportunities and growing distance. The lyrics follow the father as he repeatedly puts work and other obligations ahead of spending time with his young son, who idolizes him and dreams of being just like him. As the years pass, the son grows up and becomes busy with his own life, mirroring his father’s behavior. Eventually, when the father retires and hopes to reconnect, the son is too preoccupied with his own responsibilities to spend time with him. The song’s refrain, featuring imagery of childhood rhymes, underscores the theme of time slipping away and the painful realization that relationships require effort before it’s too late.