Dad used to listen to this when I was a kid and he'd get really emotional, especially toward the end of his fight with cancer. He died when I was 10. Now I'm a father with 2 boys of my own and this song brings me to tears every time. I hope I live long enough to see my boys grow up and have families of their own.
My dad had prostate cancer when I quit my job to move back to the area of the country where he lived. I helped take care of him and was able to be with him almost every day during his fight with cancer. I had never been particularly close to my dad until that time. I felt like we became friends. I wouldn't trade that year of my life for anything.
Yet another song that takes me back to my childhood. Knew the lyrics before I turned 18. As an adult male, this truly hits home as I travel or depart home for work. Started in the military and has not stopped. Brings a tear(s) to my eyes every time it come on the radio. 😢 It is heartbreaking for me cuz I've missed lots over the years, but when I was/am home...well, it's family time!!!
The irony of the song is that it's not a joyful tune about father-son relationships. It's a song about opportunities lost, relationships taken for granted, put off etc. And the greater irony is that Harry Chapin never got to see his son graduate college or get married and raise his own family.
What I hear is a father not realizing just how right he had to have gotten it to have a son that never grew out of seeing his dad as a worthy hero to follow in the tracks of. I see that although the father wishes he'd spent more time with his son, at least he never left his son wishing for a better father. I have no real issue with anyone else's insights. It's that good of a song and that poignant.
Could never hear this song without tears. Pretty much the story with my old man. He's still with us. We have a strained, "loving" relationship that's left my life empty, alone, and wasted as everyone around me is enjoying their own lives and kids. GOOD TIMES!
The song is very much a cautionary tale. The father spent all of his life working for the future, and when he finally has time to sit back and enjoy himself, his son was too busy with his own life. I never paid it much attention until I had a flirtation with mortality, then I realized that I was missing my life waiting for a future I may not be around for. Now I try to appreciate the present more.
Exactly why I dislike this song. It’s a song about a man who did everything except spend time with a son who only wanted his father’s attention. Then it’s too late.
When I was 14 years old, my dad heard me sing this song at a pancake breakfast with the school choir. It has been our favorite song for 50 years. I am now 64 and dad is 91, he asked me if I could sing this at his funeral and I told him I don't think I could and made a recording for him. I also had to explain to him that he was not the dad in the song, he was always there for all my school events and was always there when I needed him. Love Harry's music and I cried when he died. Thanks for reviewing this song.
Dont apologize, Aileen. If you aren't touched by this song, there's something wrong. Every one of us has regrets about our relationships - especially with those closest to us. What's beautiful is how no matter how old we get, we keep learning. I think back on my Dad and I appreciate what he did for me more every day. Glad you're going to see your Mom. Give her a big hug.
I told my Harry Chapin story on another channel, but I think it's worth repeating here. When I was about 12-13, my brother was living on Cape Cod and one summer I went to visit and stay with him a few days. A couple of the neighbor kids who were a bit older than me asked if I wanted to sneak in to see Harry Chapin at the Cape Cod Melody Tent. I had no idea who he was, but I wanted to be with the cool kids, so I said "Hell Yeah!". They had obviously done this before because they knew exactly how to get in. We snuck in and sat in a couple empty seats that were sort of behind the stage. After a couple songs in, security came over and was going to kick us out. Harry stopped the song he was doing and said "Hey! It's OK! Let them stay!". Security looked at him for a second and left us alone the rest of the show. As the show was ending, we were getting up to leave and harry again said "Hey guys! Hang around a minute!" Stunned, we kind of sat there not knowing what he was going to do. He came over and sat down with us. I don't remember what all we talked about. But after maybe 10-15 minutes he said "I have to get going. Promise me you'll come back next year to see the show. But pay next time ok?" We all agreed and said how cool he was and promised to see him again. Unfortunately, he was killed before he came back to Cape Cod. I've met a few celebrities over the years, and he is one of the nicest and kindest I've ever met.
He did free concerts on Long Island. I was a baby but my parents went to a few. Maybe because he lived there? He is still known most here for his work with getting food to families/people in need. I'm quite sure his charity is still going strong.
Harry was a Master Storyteller, many more life tales, (songs) to share. He was my wife's favorite singer. (she passed at 52 from BC) Such an impression he left on so many people. He was also a relentless advocate for those suffering from hunger and campaigned non stop to relieve it. I'm sure you'll get a lot of suggestions for some of his top hits. Hope you'll consider doing as many as possible. BTW, he is credited with 'discovering' Pat Benetar. She sang one of his songs at the tribute concert they did in his memory at Madison Square Garden. (It's on RUclips)
I still get choked up at this song, and I had a fabulous father (and mother) who were incredibly generous with their time and with me. The song reminds me of how blessed I was to have them in my life.
Harry Chapin was BRILLIANT!!!! Sad for his loss. Cats in the Cradle was brilliant. Loved it. But my favourite is one of his firsts...TAXI. It tells a beautiful story of love, loss and moving forward. "It was raining hard in Frisco, I needed one more fare to make my night.....a lady up ahead waved and flagged me down, she got in at the light. I said: "Where you goin' to my lady blue? It's a SHAME you ruined your gown in the rain. She just looked out the window and said 16 Parkside Lane.....You can find it and watch/listen to it,. Brilliant singer/songwriter/storyteller..
This song has drawn a lot of tears over the years. I met Harry once when I was younger. One of the kindest, most humble men I have ever met. It really tore me up when he passed away so young. Other songs you will enjoy are Taxi, W.O.L.D and (for humor) Thirty Thousand Pounds Of Bananas
Not only was Harry a great songwriter but he was a great humanitarian. He was a Co-Founder of World Hunger Year, a charity that continues to this day, fighting hunger and poverty across the United States, and around the globe. He would often perform 250 to 300 shows a year donating the proceeds from half the shows to his and local charities. As others have listed here some of his great songs, including "Taxi", "A better place to be", "Mr. Tanner", and countless others. All worth listening to. The songs will end up, taking up residence in your heart and your soul, and you'll carry them with you through life and you'll find that you'll be a better person for it..
We Are the World is all because of Harry Chapin. He was a great humanitarian. If you ever get a chance, there is a video out there of The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, talking about his experiences with Harry and the headaches that Harry would give to The Boss. It is worth watching.
He was a great storyteller. I’d recommend “W.O.L.D.” Also the tribute concert that was done after he passed away is fantastic. Richie Havens’ cover of “W.O.L.D.” Is great, and so is Pat Benatar’s cover of “Shooting Star” is amazing.
that was a beautiful reaction....I'm 68 and lost my child in 2010 at 32 years old from cancer and not a day goes by I think of all the years we missed and won't get back...ENJOY LIFE,,,TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED....grab on and don't let go
I was 15 when this song was released. I had a really good relationship with my dad, but I recognized that, Cat's In The Cradle as a cautionary tale for the future. Here I am at 65 and have raised two sons, one older than you. I'd like to think that I heeded the message of this song. I see my boys often and marvel as their lives unfold through time.
I was a teenager when this song played on the radio every hour. It was only being older and more into living life that I realized how true and powerful it is.
Never knew just how powerful this song is until my father passed away. Wish I could go back and listen to it with him. Thank you so much for checking this song and your genuine reaction speaks volumes to the meaning of this song. Bless you ❤
I feel it like you. I have a son that came later in my life. He is my EVERYTHING. And when I say I'm busy or I'm tired from work, it eats at me. So I push and find the time cuz he's a daddy's boy 100%. This grown-ass man cries at that song. Thank you for the reaction! ❤
Had the great honor of meeting him in Rota Spain in 1978 performing at the USN Officers club. He played military bases at his brothers request, who was in the Navy. I was in tears during this.... thank you so much for the remembrance, the message, and your emotion.
My father was stationed in Rota , my favorite picture of him is from his time there. He was in his tightly whiteys around a campfire with the fellas he was housing a giant bottle of wine that was as big around as he was. He is the reason I have such an emotional attachment to music. He was there in 75-76. 77 we ended up in Sicily. Reading your comment just brought back some memories thanks .
This song was my story line with my father through the 1950s and 1960s. Fortunately we both came to our senses in the early 1970s, and both of us made d@mn sure we always made time for each other. My dad passed away in 1994, and even today, when I'm well into my seventies, there is not a time goes by when I don't remember him with fondness and a smile.
Harry was from my native Long Island, NY and would play at my High School every year. It was one of hundreds of free concerts he played every year in which he raised awareness of the problem of hunger in the world. I heard him in concert when i was in college, too and I'll tell you, no performer ever connected with his audience better than Harry. Everyone really loved him and the stories he would tell with his music. I remember the day he died, in a car accident on the way to a concert to carry on his humanitarian message. He was really a great man.
People think dads don't care about their kids, but we do. We work hard to give them the best life we can, but it comes at a cost. There are no outlets for dads, so we suffer silently and die with the sadness we never tell anyone about.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍 and Sir...Dax's To Be A Man is Your anthem... You are a great Dad😊👍 Again, have a great day 😊👍
I saw Harry Chapin at a show at my university. It was just him and his guitar and he told so many stories between songs. After the show he greeted all of us in the corridor as we were leaving and thanked us for coming. Just a great guy.
Harry Chapin was a fellow Long Islander. He often held free concerts just outside, people hanging out on grassy fields. Even more so I believe he was and is known locally for his charities he was so passionate about, getting food to families/people in need. He founded Long Island Cares Food Bank, co-founded Why Hunger, founded Hunger Hotline in NYC & was involved in many other charities. He was such a good soul, he donated about a third of his paid concerts to charities! I was young when he passed but I knew it was such a huge loss & he lives on through his acts of kindness. The Harry Chapin Award is given every two years to recognize people or groups with a selfless commitment to humanitarian efforts.❤ (you had me crying too!)
It's easy to feel like you have plenty of time for... Then all of a sudden, if you are lucky, you find yourself in your 50's and looking back at how much and how fast time has passed. Naturally this song has a different meaning now that I am in that 50's crowd than it did when I was a kid.... but the experience is real in every aspect. Perfect reaction.
The reason you're so emotional is the reason this song is always rated so highly by everyone. Everyone's got some emotional trauma or baggage, and a lot of it's about family, and this song doesn't just touch on that, it hits it like a ton of bricks. I have literally heard this song probably at least monthly for near on my whole life (35 years at this point) and it still never fails to get a tear from me. It's a freaking masterclass in how to do art. All art is supposed to do is evoke an emotional response, and if this doesn't do that you're a robot.
Harry Chapin graduated from the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School in New York City in 1960. In 1978 he returned to his former high school as a Distinguished Alumni and spoke at my high school graduation ceremony. As a teenager, I've watched him host and performed on episodes of "The Midnight Special" and was so sad at hearing of his tragic death in July 1981 from a car accident in Long Island, New York.
Aileen, Your reaction is why we wanted to share this with you. There's songs like this for all of us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reactions with us. We love you and want the absolute best for you. ❤❤❤❤❤
As a divorced father of two, and always away working long hrs to provide for them, we were together recently. They are both in their mid 20’s, and we heard this on the playlist in the car. Everyone got quiet, we listened and all sang at the end. They both then told me, “Dad We get it now. We didn’t understand, didn’t like it, but hearing this today with you, and our life’s are they are, I get it. Thanks Dad”…. We then had pizza and talked for an hours.. it was great.
This song always gets to me. I'm 64 and haven't talked to my kids for years. I would love to hear from them. I watch them from afar (thanks social media). I'm sure your dad does too. What ever it is between you and your dad, it is worth trying to fix. Your emotions are affected by your distance from your dad.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍 and Sir, please take the first step and call them today and set up a meet and greet... I believe there will be a miracle... God bless each and every one of you. Again, have a great day 😊👍🙏
My goodness. I think your followers like to make you cry! I felt your feelings as well. I never got to know my biological father. He passed away in 2010 without my knowledge. So, I never got to meet and know him. I connected with my sister who is his youngest daughter and I'm getting to know more about him and how he was. This song also made me sad about my step-father, of whom I had a great relationship with, but I haven't seen him since 2017 because of the distance between us. Listening to this song does make you think about keeping better contact with your loved ones, because as you said, tomorrow is not guaranteed. Thank you for your channel. I love your reactions and genuine connection to the songs you react to.
Aileen, you wouldn't be human if this song doesn't bring you to tears. I've heard this song since it came out, and I've known Harry Chapan's story, and this song still gets to me, especially since I have a son...and he grew up just like me. I'm 68, and my son is 38, and I am so proud of him. Don't apologize for the tears. Glad you liked the song.
My dad,who passed away last year at 89,told be 30+ years ago that this song really impacted him as a father. Our kids learn from us and this song shows the importance of spending quality time with your kids. I am now 68 and my son is 35. I made sure to set aside time when he was young through his teenage years to do things with him even though I traveled for business and was often gone. My son now has a 5 year old son and I have noticed that he spends a lot of quality time with him.
Great reaction Aileen this is definitely a tear jerker. Harry tells the most elegant stories. He was a such a great singer songwriter. This is an unfortunate song about so many father son relationships. I was very fortunate to have a great relationship with my dad who was my hero. He has been gone for 29 yrs now. I still think about him everyday. He was a very busy father but always had time for us. Love your pure emotion. Another tear jerker about Dad and son relationship is Father and Son by Cat Stevens. I think you would enjoy that one too? Love what you are doing keep up the fantastic work.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍 and Sir I'm so glad all was great with your dad. Again, have a great day
I heard this song when it first came out when I was in my early 20's. It has always stuck with me. I had my sons late in life, when I was 48 and then 50 years old. I am 70 now but In these past 20 years, because of this song whenever my boys needed my time I made sure I was there. It had it's benefits for me as well. I remember about ten years ago when we took their RC cars to a local parking lot. I'm sure some people were driving by and wondering what was that old guy doing playing with toys...but I was having the time of my life with my sons!
My wife and I had seen Harry in concert 5 times, 2 of those not long before his tragic car accident. The accident occurred after we moved out of state for a new job. It was like a member of our family had passed away. Sadly, when we left our home for our move, it was the last time I saw my own father, who died unexpectedly a couple months later. He and I had a great relationship and I vowed, knowing Cats in the Cradle, that I must have a similar one with my own kids when they were born and as they grew up. My son is now 41, my daughter is 37, and we are the best of friends. The emotion of that song stays with me today as I try to forge a similar bond with my grandchildren as they grow.
I just lost my mom a few weeks ago to early Alzheimer's. She took on the role of both parents when I was younger, and she pulled it off magnificently. I know this song well and wasn't expecting it to hit this hard. I love you and miss you, mom 😞Thanks Aileen. I loved your reaction. You have a beautiful soul!
Yes, I was crying along with you.. We lost Harry due to a car accident when he was on his way to perform at a free concert. It must have been devastating when they announced to the audience why he wasn't appearing..I didn't get to meet him, but I met an Australian radio announcer who interviewed him, and his words have always stuck with me.. he said. "He was the most beautiful man I have ever met"
My father and I had a very rocky relationship throughout most of my childhood. He had "demons" in his life, like alcohol, and had made quite a few mistakes that truly drove us apart. I am now happy to say my father and I have a fantastic relationship. I would honestly say he is one of my best friends and someone I can ALWAYS go to, even if it's just to listen when I need to vent. I know there may be pain or issues in your past with your father Ms. Aileen but do yourself, and him, a favor and reach out. It is something you are very unlikely to regret doing and it could bring you so much joy...or even just peace of mind. Best of luck should you take my, and other commenters, advice.
I love this song and it always brings some emotions so I was right there tearing up with you. My dad died when I was 10 and this song helped to guide me as an adult to make sure that I make all the time in the world for my kids, who are still young at this time. I almost never push off the simple things they ask. Want me to look at a picture they drew but I'm sitting comfortably on the couch watching tv? I get right up and go and look at the picture because I know that someday will be the last time they ask me to do that. This song really helps me to keep that in the forefront of my mind at all times. So let's keep crying together and listen to this one more time. Love your reactions!
Harry was the greatest storyteller of my generation. I saw him in concert three times. Listen to Taxi and to Mr. Tanner to get a feel for his storytelling ability.
This song brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it. It really hits home. I'm 70 years old and 43 years ago my wife who was only 25 years passed away from complications during the birth of our son. We had only known each other and been married for 6 years. My son was just fine. Now I think back to the first day I stood and watched him getting on the school bus for kindergarten. Seems like I no more turned around and he was graduating middle school and getting ready for high school. Next thing I know he's a senior and found his first girlfriend. Now he is 43 years old and his job keeps him busy trying to survive and pay the bills. I'm in a therapy hospital for back problems and other health issues. My health is deteriorating and I don't know how much longer I have before I go to join my wife. I enjoy what time I get to spend with my son. My advice to anyone who has a true love and children is to hold them close and spend as much time as you can with them. No one is guaranteed another day on this green earth so stay true and enjoy. As the old saying goes......You don't know what you've got til it's gone. Enjoyed your reaction so much. I'm crying right along with you. Til next time be well and stay safe. ❤❤❤❤❤
Oh, so many songs that do this to me... Five For Fighting "100 years", Collin Raye "Love, Me", Tim McGraw "Don't Take The Girl"... those songs just DESTROY me and have for DECADES.
This song always gets to me. It affected me when it first came out, and it hits even harder now. We are not promised tomorrow. Pick up the phone and visit whenever you can. I have suffered the loss of 5 in my immediate family the last couple of years. The biggest comfort I have is knowing I spent as much time as possible with them, and I ended every phone call and visit with "I Love You."
I've never cried over this song until you did. You've got a big heart. My oldest daughter lost her struggle with bipolar in 2018. A long time after, I decided to hate watch 'Mamma Mia!' I was never a fan of Abba so I figured it would be fun. I'd never heard 'Slipping Through My Fingers' before. I cried all through that song. You just never know what's going to get you in the feels. ❤
My father was not a nice man. I dealt with the mental scars for too long. When my first son was born I held the fear I would turn into my father. The good man my mum taught me to be won and my kids and I have a very close relationship. Partly due to me not being what my father taught me but also from understanding songs like this. I grew up sharing a bedroom with my younger brother. We laughed, played and fought. We got into trouble together. We sat at the seashore and sketched together. We shared a love of music and, while we didn't always agree, we also introduced each other to many different bands and styles of music. On Sunday, my sisters and I scattered our brother's ashes on the same seashore where we grew up. He was only 60. It's never too late to pick up that phone and call.
Your life with your brother rings true with me. I’m 57 and I lost my middle brother Adam in July this year to cancer. We three boys all brought up together in the same room( first up beat dressed) Adam. Was such an inspiration to me! He didn’t long for any material possessions and loved life and his family. Irreplaceable but the 55 years we had him were a constant joy.
My father was a shift worker at a power plant, and there were many days when we wouldn't see him because we went to school early, and his shift had him working late. When I think back on the vacations and the few days in-between that we had together, it makes them so much more special. Once he retired and I started working, the same cycle repeated. He would want to go fish, but many times, I was called in for overtime. Make the time to be there for your children.
I am 57 years old. My sons are 18 and 21. I first heard this song when I was 10, shortly after my dad died from cancer. I promised myself then that if I ever had kids of my own, I would never be like the father in this song. No song has had a more profound influence on my life.
My dad was such a hard ass and abusive pick. I had nothing to do with him when I left the house. I didn't have any contact with him for years. But as I grew older and got therapy to help heal the anger on my heart. I finally was able to talk with him, truly talk with him after 15 years. I am now closer to my dad than I ever had been in the past. I thank him for being in my life and things can change if both people really want it. I love you dad. Iove you so so very much.
You're emotional because it's a real song with real thought not manufactured for downloads or streams. I grew up hearing this song and my dad always turned it up when it came on the radio and now I can relate because I have a 9 year old. Glad you enjoyed it.
My Dad passed at 65, but he had time for all 9 of us kids! He was a busy man who loved and lived so hard, his heart gave out! But all of us his children, didn't have to think we didn't get enough attention! We were blessed
Another great singer songwriter & storyteller. I had his "Greatest Stories Live" double album. "Cat's In The Cradle" is his most famous piece. "Taxi" was another big hit for Harry Chapin. Ten years later he followed it up with "Sequel" showing what happened to the 2 people in the story. He had so many great songs such as "W·O·L·D", "Mr. Tanner", "Mail Order Annie", "They Call Her Easy", "I Wanna Learn A Love Song", "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas", "Shooting Star", "Halfway To Heaven", "Six String Orchestra", "Dreams Go By", "Remember When The Music", "Story Of A Life". We lost him too young in a car accident in 1981 at the age of 38. He left a great legacy of music.
This is one of my father’s favorite songs. He’s always been a huge Harry Chapin fan. So I heard this tune at a very young age. Harry was definitely one of music’s top storytellers. You shed beautiful tears.
I had front row seats to see him but he died literally days before the show. One of my favorite songs when i was young. I truly related and like his son said he helped me repair my relationship with my dad. Made me always think about what it was like raising me and where he was a different ages I was. We led very different lives. My dad is 87 and i try to see him as often as I can even though we live several hundred miles away. Also listen to Taxi. You will really like it too.
Could you imagine a concert with Harry, Jim Croche, and Gordon Lightfoot sitting there playing their hits. What a show it would have been. The masters of their craft.
I remember sitting in the car with my dad when I was a young boy when this song came on the radio. He said “listen to the words of this song…really listen”. I understood what he meant many years later. This song always brings a tear to my eye, but watching your beautiful reaction really had my going. Your a beautiful soul. 😇
Fathers have long been caught in a Catch-22 between the drive to protect and provide for their families against a world that would otherwise roll right over them with complete indifference, and the desire to spend time with them at the expense of the work. It's always a balancing act, and not everyone gets the balance right. Most men, fathers or not, can understand the horror of getting it wrong, and not just losing a son because you didn't spend enough time with him, but even worse, to pass that along to yet another family. It's easy to get so caught up with earning money or climbing the ladder that you forget what's really important, and that's something most men (especially) relate to very much - whether it was our fathers who did that to us or our fear of doing it to our families. This song really brings this fear - and the consequences of such failure - to life.
Aileen - I love your response on this one, it had me balling, Lost my dad in 2003 and adulting is just not the same without him I miss him so much! Love love love love love this!!!!!!!
Try the Ugly Kid Joe version from the late 80's & early 90's. This song was a self fullfilled prophecy between my dad, me & my brother. It's a heart ripper for the reasons.
This is my favorite song of all time from the first time I heard it when it came out. I just want to give you a big old hug. I was wiping tears right along with you. I also remember when he died. It's sad to think of all of the songs he didn't get to write. He is the greatest story teller ever. He has a song called Taxi that actually has a sequel called Sequel. His name is pronounced with a long A . Taxi, A Better Place To Be are just a couple of my favs by him. Great reaction Aileen. You've got a great voice. Thanks,
This Song is A Hauntingly Cautionary Tale and Hits Hard Especially For Parents Because It Reminds You That if You're not Careful You'll Start a Generational Curse and Miss out On The Lives Of Your Loved Ones.😢😢 Leaving You With Regret and Sorrow.
Heard this song from my old man who would play it in his big record player in the basement. The irony is he spent most of time drinking in bars or at work until his disease took his sight, his foot, our family home, and finally his life. As a dad of 4 now one of the biggest fears I have as I work all these hours I work for us to live is I'm missing out on the best moments of my kids lives. This song tells that story in a way that serves as a cautionary tale that those moments are fleeting and temporary, so much more you will have out of them than the thankless effort you put into your 9-5 or more accurately my 6 am-10pm.
This song hits harder now. Because so many parents want what is best for their kids, and work so hard. And never get a chance to bond and enjoy time together.
I suggest "Taxi" next. It's like getting lost in a story. The man was a great storyteller. Edit: The car accident wasn't fatal for Harry, but it caused him to have a heart attack, and that's what un-alived him.
Agreed. Listening to Taxi (and it's "Sequel") is like watching a movie. Everything is so vivid in my mind, just from a well written and performed song.
Oh man.... you made me wanna cry as well!! I'm physically unable to do many things with my boy since I wrecked my back, and I see the pain in his eyes when I have to turn him down time and time again!! Now he's a teenager and he's understanding my issues, so now he does his own thing with his friends and here I sit, wanting to chat with him but he's got places to go and things to do.....
This song definitely hits even harder since my Dad's passing in 12/19 (God rest his soul). When I was in my childhood/teenage years, I did not see my Dad as much as I would have liked since he worked long, late hours. It made me appreciate the time we did have even more. Thank goodness in his later years after retirement, I did get to spend a lot more time with him. Especially in his last ten years. And we really came to have a great relationship, as I had with my Mom, who died three years later than my Dad. Not a day goes by when I don't miss both of them. Life is so short and precious. I am fortunate to have had great parents. This Harry Chapin song, along with 'Taxi' are among the greatest storytelling songs of all time. Harry (my father's name also) donated proceeds from his concerts to world hunger. Says a lot about the man in terms of what a great humanitarian he was.
Dad used to listen to this when I was a kid and he'd get really emotional, especially toward the end of his fight with cancer. He died when I was 10. Now I'm a father with 2 boys of my own and this song brings me to tears every time. I hope I live long enough to see my boys grow up and have families of their own.
Right there with you man. I was not prepared for the level of love I would feel by becoming a father.,
My dad had prostate cancer when I quit my job to move back to the area of the country where he lived. I helped take care of him and was able to be with him almost every day during his fight with cancer. I had never been particularly close to my dad until that time. I felt like we became friends. I wouldn't trade that year of my life for anything.
@@Tampahopyou should have been closer before he died but I know there's a lot of circumstances in life.
@@michaelasay8587 Unless you know a person's family history, I'd suggest it's very unwise to judge.
I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you live a long and healthy life for your boys
Yet another song that takes me back to my childhood. Knew the lyrics before I turned 18. As an adult male, this truly hits home as I travel or depart home for work. Started in the military and has not stopped. Brings a tear(s) to my eyes every time it come on the radio. 😢 It is heartbreaking for me cuz I've missed lots over the years, but when I was/am home...well, it's family time!!!
The irony of the song is that it's not a joyful tune about father-son relationships. It's a song about opportunities lost, relationships taken for granted, put off etc. And the greater irony is that Harry Chapin never got to see his son graduate college or get married and raise his own family.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍
I would argue its none of those, rather be careful what you wish for "..he grown up just like me, my boy is just like me.."
@@MR-MR-ud5oo
That's the IRONY, as I said.
What I hear is a father not realizing just how right he had to have gotten it to have a son that never grew out of seeing his dad as a worthy hero to follow in the tracks of. I see that although the father wishes he'd spent more time with his son, at least he never left his son wishing for a better father.
I have no real issue with anyone else's insights. It's that good of a song and that poignant.
This song helped make a lot of my generation better parents. You have to really be there for your kids.
Could never hear this song without tears. Pretty much the story with my old man. He's still with us. We have a strained, "loving" relationship that's left my life empty, alone, and wasted as everyone around me is enjoying their own lives and kids.
GOOD TIMES!
The song is very much a cautionary tale. The father spent all of his life working for the future, and when he finally has time to sit back and enjoy himself, his son was too busy with his own life. I never paid it much attention until I had a flirtation with mortality, then I realized that I was missing my life waiting for a future I may not be around for. Now I try to appreciate the present more.
Exactly why I dislike this song. It’s a song about a man who did everything except spend time with a son who only wanted his father’s attention. Then it’s too late.
you hit the nail on the head.
Always make sure you save time for the important things in life.
Not only to work for the future, but to work for the present.
This and Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd are the two songs I can’t hold it together when I hear them.
When I was 14 years old, my dad heard me sing this song at a pancake breakfast with the school choir. It has been our favorite song for 50 years. I am now 64 and dad is 91, he asked me if I could sing this at his funeral and I told him I don't think I could and made a recording for him. I also had to explain to him that he was not the dad in the song, he was always there for all my school events and was always there when I needed him. Love Harry's music and I cried when he died. Thanks for reviewing this song.
Dont apologize, Aileen. If you aren't touched by this song, there's something wrong. Every one of us has regrets about our relationships - especially with those closest to us. What's beautiful is how no matter how old we get, we keep learning. I think back on my Dad and I appreciate what he did for me more every day. Glad you're going to see your Mom. Give her a big hug.
No need to apologize for being honest and vulnerable. Loved your reaction.
I told my Harry Chapin story on another channel, but I think it's worth repeating here.
When I was about 12-13, my brother was living on Cape Cod and one summer I went to visit and stay with him a few days. A couple of the neighbor kids who were a bit older than me asked if I wanted to sneak in to see Harry Chapin at the Cape Cod Melody Tent. I had no idea who he was, but I wanted to be with the cool kids, so I said "Hell Yeah!".
They had obviously done this before because they knew exactly how to get in. We snuck in and sat in a couple empty seats that were sort of behind the stage. After a couple songs in, security came over and was going to kick us out. Harry stopped the song he was doing and said "Hey! It's OK! Let them stay!". Security looked at him for a second and left us alone the rest of the show.
As the show was ending, we were getting up to leave and harry again said "Hey guys! Hang around a minute!" Stunned, we kind of sat there not knowing what he was going to do. He came over and sat down with us. I don't remember what all we talked about. But after maybe 10-15 minutes he said "I have to get going. Promise me you'll come back next year to see the show. But pay next time ok?" We all agreed and said how cool he was and promised to see him again.
Unfortunately, he was killed before he came back to Cape Cod.
I've met a few celebrities over the years, and he is one of the nicest and kindest I've ever met.
Oh, man, Pete, great story!!
Where on the Cape? I have fond memories of Sandwich, Wellfleet, Provincetown, Truro, Brewster, Wood's Hole, Hyannis and Chatham.
@@MisterWondrous Hyannis. He still lives and has a store there.
@@GeekingOutWithPete Outstanding! I love that big health food store in Hyannis. I know Tom and Brian, who live there now. Nice gents.
He did free concerts on Long Island. I was a baby but my parents went to a few. Maybe because he lived there?
He is still known most here for his work with getting food to families/people in need. I'm quite sure his charity is still going strong.
Being a dad this song always makes me cry .Cause it is so true to real life.
I love how empathetic and how open you are with your emotions, Aileen. One of the things I love about your channel.
I second this entirely ❤
I third that, and one of the cuitist women on RUclips. Just saying.
Harry was a Master Storyteller, many more life tales, (songs) to share. He was my wife's favorite singer. (she passed at 52 from BC) Such an impression he left on so many people. He was also a relentless advocate for those suffering from hunger and campaigned non stop to relieve it. I'm sure you'll get a lot of suggestions for some of his top hits. Hope you'll consider doing as many as possible. BTW, he is credited with 'discovering' Pat Benetar. She sang one of his songs at the tribute concert they did in his memory at Madison Square Garden. (It's on RUclips)
I'm 67, an old Vet. So I remember him. To this day, Harry Chapin Food Bank helps folks. Even here in SW Florida. RIP Harry.
I still get choked up at this song, and I had a fabulous father (and mother) who were incredibly generous with their time and with me. The song reminds me of how blessed I was to have them in my life.
Harry sadly died in 1981 at just 38 years old after a car accident. His work continues to inspire many aspiring artists to this day
One of the few times when you really like an artist and then find out that they are an even better person!
On the same day Regan was shot
6:49. Yes, we read it with her.
@@straycatttt2766 I posted the comment a few seconds after the video was posted. I didn’t realize that it would explain how Harry died
On his way to a charity concert
Harry Chapin was BRILLIANT!!!! Sad for his loss. Cats in the Cradle was brilliant. Loved it. But my favourite is one of his firsts...TAXI. It tells a beautiful story of love, loss and moving forward. "It was raining hard in Frisco, I needed one more fare to make my night.....a lady up ahead waved and flagged me down, she got in at the light. I said: "Where you goin' to my lady blue? It's a SHAME you ruined your gown in the rain. She just looked out the window and said 16 Parkside Lane.....You can find it and watch/listen to it,. Brilliant singer/songwriter/storyteller..
RIP to one of the best song writers, lyricists (with help from his wife), musicians and story tellers in music history, Harry Chapin.
Beautiful reaction, Aileen. When you see your mom, give her the hug you both need.
I was 13 when this song was a hit. I liked it a lot then, but the way it hits me now, as a dad of 3, is so profound that it can't be put into words.
This song has drawn a lot of tears over the years. I met Harry once when I was younger. One of the kindest, most humble men I have ever met. It really tore me up when he passed away so young. Other songs you will enjoy are Taxi, W.O.L.D and (for humor) Thirty Thousand Pounds Of Bananas
This one and another classic Jim Croce - Time In A Bottle were real tearjerkers back in the day. Great reaction as always Aileen ❤
Yes. Both songs make me tear up every time.
@@LibrarianMichael more so when you know the backstory to both artists
Not only was Harry a great songwriter but he was a great humanitarian. He was a Co-Founder of World Hunger Year, a charity that continues to this day, fighting hunger and poverty across the United States, and around the globe. He would often perform 250 to 300 shows a year donating the proceeds from half the shows to his and local charities. As others have listed here some of his great songs, including "Taxi", "A better place to be", "Mr. Tanner", and countless others. All worth listening to. The songs will end up, taking up residence in your heart and your soul, and you'll carry them with you through life and you'll find that you'll be a better person for it..
We Are the World is all because of Harry Chapin. He was a great humanitarian. If you ever get a chance, there is a video out there of The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, talking about his experiences with Harry and the headaches that Harry would give to The Boss. It is worth watching.
He was a great storyteller. I’d recommend “W.O.L.D.” Also the tribute concert that was done after he passed away is fantastic. Richie Havens’ cover of “W.O.L.D.” Is great, and so is Pat Benatar’s cover of “Shooting Star” is amazing.
A Better Place To Be is probably my favourite song.
I tear up every time I hear this song. Ever since my son was born in 2004, I have tried to not be the dad in this song. One of my favorites
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍
My oldest son was also born in 2004. This song still destroys me in spite of my efforts.
You're the sweetest thing. I love this song. Enjoy your visit with your mom Dear ❤
that was a beautiful reaction....I'm 68 and lost my child in 2010 at 32 years old from cancer and not a day goes by I think of all the years we missed and won't get back...ENJOY LIFE,,,TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED....grab on and don't let go
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍
The past can make you depressed and the future can make you anxious. Live in the moment.
I was 15 when this song was released. I had a really good relationship with my dad, but I recognized that, Cat's In The Cradle as a cautionary tale for the future. Here I am at 65 and have raised two sons, one older than you. I'd like to think that I heeded the message of this song. I see my boys often and marvel as their lives unfold through time.
I was a teenager when this song played on the radio every hour. It was only being older and more into living life that I realized how true and powerful it is.
Never knew just how powerful this song is until my father passed away. Wish I could go back and listen to it with him. Thank you so much for checking this song and your genuine reaction speaks volumes to the meaning of this song. Bless you ❤
Taxi is a gorgeous song and a must if you’re enjoying Harry’s work.
100%
💯💯👍👍
Taxi and Sequel
Oh Absolutely! A timeless classic👍✌️
I feel it like you. I have a son that came later in my life. He is my EVERYTHING. And when I say I'm busy or I'm tired from work, it eats at me. So I push and find the time cuz he's a daddy's boy 100%. This grown-ass man cries at that song. Thank you for the reaction! ❤
One of my favourite songs. When you become a parent, it hits differently.
Had the great honor of meeting him in Rota Spain in 1978 performing at the USN Officers club. He played military bases at his brothers request, who was in the Navy. I was in tears during this.... thank you so much for the remembrance, the message, and your emotion.
My father was stationed in Rota , my favorite picture of him is from his time there. He was in his tightly whiteys around a campfire with the fellas he was housing a giant bottle of wine that was as big around as he was. He is the reason I have such an emotional attachment to music. He was there in 75-76. 77 we ended up in Sicily. Reading your comment just brought back some memories thanks .
I've listened to this song so many times and while I've always found it bittersweet I never cried until I watched it with you. 🖤
This song was my story line with my father through the 1950s and 1960s. Fortunately we both came to our senses in the early 1970s, and both of us made d@mn sure we always made time for each other. My dad passed away in 1994, and even today, when I'm well into my seventies, there is not a time goes by when I don't remember him with fondness and a smile.
You in that thumbnail has my soul shattered and now I just wanna give you the biggest hug 😭🖤
Harry was from my native Long Island, NY and would play at my High School every year. It was one of hundreds of free concerts he played every year in which he raised awareness of the problem of hunger in the world. I heard him in concert when i was in college, too and I'll tell you, no performer ever connected with his audience better than Harry. Everyone really loved him and the stories he would tell with his music.
I remember the day he died, in a car accident on the way to a concert to carry on his humanitarian message.
He was really a great man.
People think dads don't care about their kids, but we do. We work hard to give them the best life we can, but it comes at a cost. There are no outlets for dads, so we suffer silently and die with the sadness we never tell anyone about.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍 and Sir...Dax's To Be A Man is Your anthem... You are a great Dad😊👍 Again, have a great day 😊👍
True story
I saw Harry Chapin at a show at my university. It was just him and his guitar and he told so many stories between songs. After the show he greeted all of us in the corridor as we were leaving and thanked us for coming. Just a great guy.
I never paid much attention to the lyrics until i was a parent myself. Once I took it all in, it really hit hard.
Yep. I always liked the song, but it REALLY hit me when I became a dad.
Harry Chapin was a fellow Long Islander. He often held free concerts just outside, people hanging out on grassy fields. Even more so I believe he was and is known locally for his charities he was so passionate about, getting food to families/people in need. He founded Long Island Cares Food Bank, co-founded Why Hunger, founded Hunger Hotline in NYC & was involved in many other charities. He was such a good soul, he donated about a third of his paid concerts to charities! I was young when he passed but I knew it was such a huge loss & he lives on through his acts of kindness.
The Harry Chapin Award is given every two years to recognize people or groups with a selfless commitment to humanitarian efforts.❤
(you had me crying too!)
It's easy to feel like you have plenty of time for...
Then all of a sudden, if you are lucky, you find yourself in your 50's and looking back at how much and how fast time has passed.
Naturally this song has a different meaning now that I am in that 50's crowd than it did when I was a kid.... but the experience is real in every aspect.
Perfect reaction.
The reason you're so emotional is the reason this song is always rated so highly by everyone. Everyone's got some emotional trauma or baggage, and a lot of it's about family, and this song doesn't just touch on that, it hits it like a ton of bricks. I have literally heard this song probably at least monthly for near on my whole life (35 years at this point) and it still never fails to get a tear from me. It's a freaking masterclass in how to do art. All art is supposed to do is evoke an emotional response, and if this doesn't do that you're a robot.
Harry Chapin graduated from the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School in New York City in 1960. In 1978 he returned to his former high school as a Distinguished Alumni and spoke at my high school graduation ceremony. As a teenager, I've watched him host and performed on episodes of "The Midnight Special" and was so sad at hearing of his tragic death in July 1981 from a car accident in Long Island, New York.
Aileen, Your reaction is why we wanted to share this with you. There's songs like this for all of us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reactions with us. We love you and want the absolute best for you. ❤❤❤❤❤
As a divorced father of two, and always away working long hrs to provide for them, we were together recently. They are both in their mid 20’s, and we heard this on the playlist in the car. Everyone got quiet, we listened and all sang at the end. They both then told me, “Dad We get it now. We didn’t understand, didn’t like it, but hearing this today with you, and our life’s are they are, I get it. Thanks Dad”…. We then had pizza and talked for an hours.. it was great.
This song always gets to me. I'm 64 and haven't talked to my kids for years. I would love to hear from them. I watch them from afar (thanks social media). I'm sure your dad does too. What ever it is between you and your dad, it is worth trying to fix. Your emotions are affected by your distance from your dad.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍 and Sir, please take the first step and call them today and set up a meet and greet... I believe there will be a miracle... God bless each and every one of you. Again, have a great day 😊👍🙏
My goodness. I think your followers like to make you cry! I felt your feelings as well. I never got to know my biological father. He passed away in 2010 without my knowledge. So, I never got to meet and know him. I connected with my sister who is his youngest daughter and I'm getting to know more about him and how he was. This song also made me sad about my step-father, of whom I had a great relationship with, but I haven't seen him since 2017 because of the distance between us. Listening to this song does make you think about keeping better contact with your loved ones, because as you said, tomorrow is not guaranteed. Thank you for your channel. I love your reactions and genuine connection to the songs you react to.
His first ever hit was called taxi it's something worth listening to tell the story also just a different kind
He has a lot of great songs beyond these two.
Aileen, you wouldn't be human if this song doesn't bring you to tears. I've heard this song since it came out, and I've known Harry Chapan's story, and this song still gets to me, especially since I have a son...and he grew up just like me. I'm 68, and my son is 38, and I am so proud of him. Don't apologize for the tears. Glad you liked the song.
My dad,who passed away last year at 89,told be 30+ years ago that this song really impacted him as a father. Our kids learn from us and this song shows the importance of spending quality time with your kids. I am now 68 and my son is 35. I made sure to set aside time when he was young through his teenage years to do things with him even though I traveled for business and was often gone. My son now has a 5 year old son and I have noticed that he spends a lot of quality time with him.
Harry Chapin...one of the best Singer/Songwriter/Storytellers to ever do it!!
The song "Taxi" is your next stop on this journey.
Great reaction Aileen this is definitely a tear jerker. Harry tells the most elegant stories. He was a such a great singer songwriter. This is an unfortunate song about so many father son relationships. I was very fortunate to have a great relationship with my dad who was my hero. He has been gone for 29 yrs now. I still think about him everyday. He was a very busy father but always had time for us. Love your pure emotion. Another tear jerker about Dad and son relationship is Father and Son by Cat Stevens. I think you would enjoy that one too? Love what you are doing keep up the fantastic work.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍 and Sir I'm so glad all was great with your dad. Again, have a great day
I heard this song when it first came out when I was in my early 20's. It has always stuck with me. I had my sons late in life, when I was 48 and then 50 years old. I am 70 now but In these past 20 years, because of this song whenever my boys needed my time I made sure I was there. It had it's benefits for me as well. I remember about ten years ago when we took their RC cars to a local parking lot. I'm sure some people were driving by and wondering what was that old guy doing playing with toys...but I was having the time of my life with my sons!
This is an incredible song,I wish I could put you in a time machine and take you back to the music we grew up on in the 70's 80's and 90's
My wife and I had seen Harry in concert 5 times, 2 of those not long before his tragic car accident. The accident occurred after we moved out of state for a new job. It was like a member of our family had passed away. Sadly, when we left our home for our move, it was the last time I saw my own father, who died unexpectedly a couple months later. He and I had a great relationship and I vowed, knowing Cats in the Cradle, that I must have a similar one with my own kids when they were born and as they grew up. My son is now 41, my daughter is 37, and we are the best of friends. The emotion of that song stays with me today as I try to forge a similar bond with my grandchildren as they grow.
I remember this as a kid. Now I know the pain of the song as a father.
This is definitely a song for all the Dad ‘s out there. Whether you’re just starting out or it’s in retrospect. Very impactful.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍
I just lost my mom a few weeks ago to early Alzheimer's. She took on the role of both parents when I was younger, and she pulled it off magnificently. I know this song well and wasn't expecting it to hit this hard. I love you and miss you, mom 😞Thanks Aileen. I loved your reaction. You have a beautiful soul!
This song always brings a tear to my eye. Truth is universal.✌️❤️🎶
I appreciate your review and for hanging in there with a beautifully sad song
Yes, I was crying along with you.. We lost Harry due to a car accident when he was on his way to perform at a free concert. It must have been devastating when they announced to the audience why he wasn't appearing..I didn't get to meet him, but I met an Australian radio announcer who interviewed him, and his words have always stuck with me.. he said. "He was the most beautiful man I have ever met"
Ugh. Balling at work. Seeing you sad makes me sad and the song indeed touches feelings about my dad
My father and I had a very rocky relationship throughout most of my childhood. He had "demons" in his life, like alcohol, and had made quite a few mistakes that truly drove us apart. I am now happy to say my father and I have a fantastic relationship. I would honestly say he is one of my best friends and someone I can ALWAYS go to, even if it's just to listen when I need to vent. I know there may be pain or issues in your past with your father Ms. Aileen but do yourself, and him, a favor and reach out. It is something you are very unlikely to regret doing and it could bring you so much joy...or even just peace of mind. Best of luck should you take my, and other commenters, advice.
If this song doesn’t wake you up, I don’t know what will. This is one of my favorite songs.
I love this song and it always brings some emotions so I was right there tearing up with you. My dad died when I was 10 and this song helped to guide me as an adult to make sure that I make all the time in the world for my kids, who are still young at this time. I almost never push off the simple things they ask. Want me to look at a picture they drew but I'm sitting comfortably on the couch watching tv? I get right up and go and look at the picture because I know that someday will be the last time they ask me to do that. This song really helps me to keep that in the forefront of my mind at all times.
So let's keep crying together and listen to this one more time.
Love your reactions!
Harry was the greatest storyteller of my generation. I saw him in concert three times. Listen to Taxi and to Mr. Tanner to get a feel for his storytelling ability.
This song brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it. It really hits home. I'm 70 years old and 43 years ago my wife who was only 25 years passed away from complications during the birth of our son. We had only known each other and been married for 6 years. My son was just fine. Now I think back to the first day I stood and watched him getting on the school bus for kindergarten. Seems like I no more turned around and he was graduating middle school and getting ready for high school. Next thing I know he's a senior and found his first girlfriend. Now he is 43 years old and his job keeps him busy trying to survive and pay the bills. I'm in a therapy hospital for back problems and other health issues. My health is deteriorating and I don't know how much longer I have before I go to join my wife. I enjoy what time I get to spend with my son. My advice to anyone who has a true love and children is to hold them close and spend as much time as you can with them. No one is guaranteed another day on this green earth so stay true and enjoy. As the old saying goes......You don't know what you've got til it's gone. Enjoyed your reaction so much. I'm crying right along with you. Til next time be well and stay safe. ❤❤❤❤❤
His other great song is Taxi. I'm sure he has other good songs too, but those are the two songs that everybody knows.
I don’t know how Harry could even perform this song without crying.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍
Oh, so many songs that do this to me... Five For Fighting "100 years", Collin Raye "Love, Me", Tim McGraw "Don't Take The Girl"... those songs just DESTROY me and have for DECADES.
Every now and then I will do it on karaoke night and I gotta fight it. Miss my dad. God Bless ❤
This song always gets to me. It affected me when it first came out, and it hits even harder now. We are not promised tomorrow. Pick up the phone and visit whenever you can. I have suffered the loss of 5 in my immediate family the last couple of years. The biggest comfort I have is knowing I spent as much time as possible with them, and I ended every phone call and visit with "I Love You."
rest in peace dad. I forgive you
what if i cant?
@@AndyJosephson-g2l then ask Jesus to help you. You can do all things through him.
@@stevenbrenneman4368 He's asking for real help. Not make believe from Santa Claus.
@@sean-ew2qv sweet summer child there is no real help outside of him
This is powerful my friend. Read my note about this song above.
That song always moves me. I have never seen this live version; his chuckles and inflections amp up the emotion even further. You're great btw.
I've never cried over this song until you did. You've got a big heart.
My oldest daughter lost her struggle with bipolar in 2018. A long time after, I decided to hate watch 'Mamma Mia!' I was never a fan of Abba so I figured it would be fun. I'd never heard 'Slipping Through My Fingers' before. I cried all through that song. You just never know what's going to get you in the feels. ❤
My father was not a nice man. I dealt with the mental scars for too long. When my first son was born I held the fear I would turn into my father. The good man my mum taught me to be won and my kids and I have a very close relationship. Partly due to me not being what my father taught me but also from understanding songs like this.
I grew up sharing a bedroom with my younger brother. We laughed, played and fought. We got into trouble together. We sat at the seashore and sketched together. We shared a love of music and, while we didn't always agree, we also introduced each other to many different bands and styles of music. On Sunday, my sisters and I scattered our brother's ashes on the same seashore where we grew up. He was only 60.
It's never too late to pick up that phone and call.
Your life with your brother rings true with me. I’m 57 and I lost my middle brother Adam in July this year to cancer. We three boys all brought up together in the same room( first up beat dressed) Adam. Was such an inspiration to me! He didn’t long for any material possessions and loved life and his family. Irreplaceable but the 55 years we had him were a constant joy.
You lovely young woman, I’ve been listening to this song since it came out. I remember Harry’s passing as well. It still brings tears to my eyes.
My father was a shift worker at a power plant, and there were many days when we wouldn't see him because we went to school early, and his shift had him working late. When I think back on the vacations and the few days in-between that we had together, it makes them so much more special. Once he retired and I started working, the same cycle repeated. He would want to go fish, but many times, I was called in for overtime. Make the time to be there for your children.
I am 57 years old. My sons are 18 and 21. I first heard this song when I was 10, shortly after my dad died from cancer. I promised myself then that if I ever had kids of my own, I would never be like the father in this song. No song has had a more profound influence on my life.
My dad was such a hard ass and abusive pick. I had nothing to do with him when I left the house. I didn't have any contact with him for years. But as I grew older and got therapy to help heal the anger on my heart. I finally was able to talk with him, truly talk with him after 15 years. I am now closer to my dad than I ever had been in the past. I thank him for being in my life and things can change if both people really want it. I love you dad. Iove you so so very much.
Awesome to hear. Thanks for sharing.
You're emotional because it's a real song with real thought not manufactured for downloads or streams. I grew up hearing this song and my dad always turned it up when it came on the radio and now I can relate because I have a 9 year old. Glad you enjoyed it.
I have lost both my parents due to illness and one thing for sure...Don't ever take those you love for granted...
My Dad passed at 65, but he had time for all 9 of us kids! He was a busy man who loved and lived so hard, his heart gave out! But all of us his children, didn't have to think we didn't get enough attention! We were blessed
Another great singer songwriter & storyteller. I had his "Greatest Stories Live" double album. "Cat's In The Cradle" is his most famous piece. "Taxi" was another big hit for Harry Chapin. Ten years later he followed it up with "Sequel" showing what happened to the 2 people in the story. He had so many great songs such as "W·O·L·D", "Mr. Tanner", "Mail Order Annie", "They Call Her Easy", "I Wanna Learn A Love Song", "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas", "Shooting Star", "Halfway To Heaven", "Six String Orchestra", "Dreams Go By", "Remember When The Music", "Story Of A Life". We lost him too young in a car accident in 1981 at the age of 38. He left a great legacy of music.
As a kid the first Chapin song I was introduced to was '30,000 Pounds Of Bananas' - definitely made an impression lol
All great Chapin stories, but I'd add (what he said was his favorite) "A Better Place to Be".
This is one of my father’s favorite songs. He’s always been a huge Harry Chapin fan. So I heard this tune at a very young age. Harry was definitely one of music’s top storytellers. You shed beautiful tears.
If possible, call your Dad. NEVER let yesterday ruin tomorrow!
I wish I could call my daddy - he passed in 2001 :( - I agree though if possible do call your dad (and your mom)
Never let today ruin tomorrow
Amen.
Even though I talked to mine daily, I now more than ever wished I had talked even more with him.
I had front row seats to see him but he died literally days before the show. One of my favorite songs when i was young. I truly related and like his son said he helped me repair my relationship with my dad. Made me always think about what it was like raising me and where he was a different ages I was. We led very different lives. My dad is 87 and i try to see him as often as I can even though we live several hundred miles away. Also listen to Taxi. You will really like it too.
Could you imagine a concert with Harry, Jim Croche, and Gordon Lightfoot sitting there playing their hits. What a show it would have been. The masters of their craft.
Oh, if only. . . They were three unrivalled storytellers, and keen observers of human behavior.
Throw in Jackson Taylor, Joni Mitchell and John Prine and I would be first in line.
Jim Croce - "Time in a Bottle"
Awesome David
There was a concert with Harry Chapin, James Taylor, Gordon Litefoot and John Denver
I remember sitting in the car with my dad when I was a young boy when this song came on the radio. He said “listen to the words of this song…really listen”. I understood what he meant many years later. This song always brings a tear to my eye, but watching your beautiful reaction really had my going. Your a beautiful soul. 😇
Fathers have long been caught in a Catch-22 between the drive to protect and provide for their families against a world that would otherwise roll right over them with complete indifference, and the desire to spend time with them at the expense of the work. It's always a balancing act, and not everyone gets the balance right. Most men, fathers or not, can understand the horror of getting it wrong, and not just losing a son because you didn't spend enough time with him, but even worse, to pass that along to yet another family. It's easy to get so caught up with earning money or climbing the ladder that you forget what's really important, and that's something most men (especially) relate to very much - whether it was our fathers who did that to us or our fear of doing it to our families. This song really brings this fear - and the consequences of such failure - to life.
Aileen - I love your response on this one, it had me balling, Lost my dad in 2003 and adulting is just not the same without him I miss him so much! Love love love love love this!!!!!!!
Try the Ugly Kid Joe version from the late 80's & early 90's.
This song was a self fullfilled prophecy between my dad, me & my brother. It's a heart ripper for the reasons.
Fun fact about that video is that a young Norman Reedus is in it as the son.
Grew up with the Ugly Kid Joe version and it wasn’t until my son was born that this hits hard
@@nuggetgksone reason I don’t have kids. I didn’t want to repeat my dad to them.
This is my favorite song of all time from the first time I heard it when it came out. I just want to give you a big old hug. I was wiping tears right along with you. I also remember when he died. It's sad to think of all of the songs he didn't get to write. He is the greatest story teller ever. He has a song called Taxi that actually has a sequel called Sequel. His name is pronounced with a long A . Taxi, A Better Place To Be are just a couple of my favs by him. Great reaction Aileen. You've got a great voice. Thanks,
This Song is A Hauntingly Cautionary Tale and Hits Hard Especially For Parents Because It Reminds You That if You're not Careful You'll Start a Generational Curse and Miss out On The Lives Of Your Loved Ones.😢😢 Leaving You With Regret and Sorrow.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍
Heard this song from my old man who would play it in his big record player in the basement. The irony is he spent most of time drinking in bars or at work until his disease took his sight, his foot, our family home, and finally his life.
As a dad of 4 now one of the biggest fears I have as I work all these hours I work for us to live is I'm missing out on the best moments of my kids lives. This song tells that story in a way that serves as a cautionary tale that those moments are fleeting and temporary, so much more you will have out of them than the thankless effort you put into your 9-5 or more accurately my 6 am-10pm.
This song hits harder now. Because so many parents want what is best for their kids, and work so hard. And never get a chance to bond and enjoy time together.
Hello to you 😊 Excellent response 😊👍 You got Harry's message loud and clear 👍😊 Have a great day 😊👍
And once you realize it, it's too late. We don't have time machines.
It is a very powerful song. Every time I hear it, I get emotional as well. thank you for doing this very heartfelt and genuine reaction.
I suggest "Taxi" next. It's like getting lost in a story.
The man was a great storyteller.
Edit:
The car accident wasn't fatal for Harry, but it caused him to have a heart attack, and that's what un-alived him.
Agreed. Listening to Taxi (and it's "Sequel") is like watching a movie. Everything is so vivid in my mind, just from a well written and performed song.
Oh man.... you made me wanna cry as well!! I'm physically unable to do many things with my boy since I wrecked my back, and I see the pain in his eyes when I have to turn him down time and time again!! Now he's a teenager and he's understanding my issues, so now he does his own thing with his friends and here I sit, wanting to chat with him but he's got places to go and things to do.....
Pronounced "Chaypin".
Fantastic songwriter! Died much too young in a car crash in his late 30's.
This song definitely hits even harder since my Dad's passing in 12/19 (God rest his soul). When I was in my childhood/teenage years, I did not see my Dad as much as I would have liked since he worked long, late hours. It made me appreciate the time we did have even more.
Thank goodness in his later years after retirement, I did get to spend a lot more time with him. Especially in his last ten years. And we really came to have a great relationship, as I had with my Mom, who died three years later than my Dad. Not a day goes by when I don't miss both of them. Life is so short and precious. I am fortunate to have had great parents.
This Harry Chapin song, along with 'Taxi' are among the greatest storytelling songs of all time. Harry (my father's name also) donated proceeds from his concerts to world hunger. Says a lot about the man in terms of what a great humanitarian he was.