流浪者之歌

Cats In The Cradle是Harry Chapin的名曲
構想來自於Harry Chap的妻子Sandy，
Harry Chap當初對這首歌沒有特別感受，直到他的孩子出世，
他才深深體會到這首歌的真諦
幾經修改，這首歌成為Harry Chap最膾炙人口的代表作


忙於工作的父親，
錯過了兒子人生初始、疏漏了兒子以及他所需要的關懷
孩子想找父親一起玩球，
埋首於工作的父親永遠是說，
「等我有空，我們一定可以玩得很愉快」
「什麼時候呢?」孩子問
「我也不知道什麼時候」。

就這樣一天復一天 父親的諾言始終沒有實現

兒子漸漸長大，離家獨自生活，來去變得匆匆
年長的父親問他何時再回來
孩子的答案跟當年父親一樣「我也不知道什麼時候...」


一首哀傷又警醒人的歌曲
被後繼的無數歌手翻唱過
Ricky Skaggs、Johnny Cash、Finn Kalvik、Ugly Kid Joe、
Mandy Patinkin等人，還有最佳二重唱Simon & Garfunkel也唱過
曾一度被誤認為是Cat Stevens的作品

第一次聽到這首歌
就是Ugly Kid Joe的翻唱版本
雖然歌中的心境離我很遠
但仍深深的為這首歌所撼動
當時無心多想，以為是Ugly Kid Joe的作品
後來不知道在哪裡看到說這首是Simon & Garfunkel的名曲
就以為是他們的歌....但是怎麼找也找不到Simon & Garfunkel版本的(若有人有，可不可以給我....)
但卻在找尋過程中認識到真正的原唱者Harry Chapin



Harry Chapin有幸在有生之年瞭解這首歌的意境
但，似乎老天喜歡捉弄人
當人們對生命好不容易有那麼一點點了解的時候
就讓你沒機會體驗
Harry Chapin在1981年死於一場車禍意外，以38歲盛年離開人世
想必他也跟歌中的父親一樣遺憾
無法陪伴孩子長大而感嘆吧!


這首感人熱淚的歌曲
請大家一起來聽聽
YOUTUBE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlHdjjHNEC8
(不知道為什麼這個LIVE版彈拍子比較快一點點...)


《 Cats In The Cradle》

My child arrived just the other day;
He came to the world in the usual day,
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay,
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talking before I knew it,
And as he grew he'd say:
"I'm going to be like you,dad,
You know I'm going to be like you."
And the cat's in the crader and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home,dad?"
"I don't know when,
But we'll get together then,
You know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day.
He said,"Thanks for the ball,dad,come on,let's play.
Can you teach me to throw?"
I said,"Not today,I've got a lot to do."
He said,"That's OK."
And he walked away,but his smile never dimmed;
He said I'm going to be like him,yeah.
You know I'm going to be like him.
And the cat's in the crader and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home,dad?"
"I don't know when,
But we'll get together then,
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 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 crader 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,
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired,my son's moved away
I 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 can fine the time.
You see,my new job's a worry and the kids have the flu,
But it's sure nice talking to you,dad.
It's sure been 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.
And the cat's in the crader 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,
You know we'll have a good time then."