Dave's Jukebox #10: Cats in the Cradle
Many of us at some stage will have had that hypothetical question about if you were stuck on a desert island what would you take with you. In a similar vein I will be sharing all the songs that I would put in my own personal jukebox, not necessarily to take to a desert island, you understand, but just the many songs that would make me sad should I never hear them again. In order to make things a little interesting I'm going to permit myself just one song from each group or singer, which will be something of a test but one I'll embrace. I hope you enjoy some of my choices and would be intrigued to hear selections from your own personal jukebox, these days MP3s or Ipods, but I'm sure you'll forgive me on this occasion.
Ugly Kid Joe – Cats in the Cradle (1993)
Released in the UK in March 1993 Ugly Kid Joe's cover of Harry Chapin's 1974 hit reached #7 in the charts and for me narrowly pips the memorable Everything About You as the group's best song. The song has a timeless but poignant message in its tale of the developing relationship between a father and son and the music video that accompanies it resonates just as powerfully as the lyrics.
The song begins with a father telling the story of his son's birth but how the necessity of work means he spends little time with him. As the boy grows up he asks his father for some of his time but the father is always too busy. Despite the setback the boy continually walks away insisting he'll be just like his father one day. When the son is graduating from college his father is the one asking for time with his son, but he simply gets a response that his son wants to borrow the car keys. By the end of the song the father is now old and contacts his son requesting to see him but the son informs his father he has work and family commitments that are taking up all his time. The role reversal between the two men is now complete and the father is left to reflect that his son has indeed become the same man as him. This is a beautifully written song, carrying a heartfelt and important message and it just happens to be a very good cover version as well.
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