# The end of "Cats in the Cradle" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 10, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693 "2010-10-10T17:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/41 "2010-10-11T16:35:33Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t think there’s any malice or vindictiveness indended by the kid, just a complete emotional separation resulting from the father’s lifelong abstraction and distracted distance. The kid wasn’t trying to hurt the father, he just no longer had any attachment to him or time for him. The son isn’t angry, there just isn’t any bond left. The father feels himself getting blown off the way he always blew the kid off (and he never had any malice when he blew the kid off either), and realizes the kid is “just like me.” No hurt was ever intended by either party, the separation was just a result of neglected priorities and unconscious self-absorbtion. > > This song always makes me want to go and go hug my own kids. To me, it’s just a reminder of what actually matters, and how easy it is to forget that, even without any ill intent. I think Dio’s right on the money. It’s not an angry song. It’s a melancholic song. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/42 "2010-10-11T17:01:03Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Did you ever hear of the saying, “Life is what happens, while your busy making other plans”? John Lennon. One of my favorite quotes. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/43 "2010-10-11T17:05:56Z")
I interpret the song not as a regret of parental neglect, but as a warning against half-assing promises to your kids. A good parent doesn’t have to be there 24/7, but a good parent doesn’t constantly promise “we’ll have a good time then” and never come through on the promise. The son isn’t regretful or resentful of the missed time, but is regretful of all of the broken promises and now has grown up knowing that he can’t trust any promises from his old man. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/44 "2010-10-12T17:09:36Z")
thanks for that sqweels, i was trying to remember from a bio i got for free on the street about 5 years ago (don’t have it anymore), and a tv interview from long ago when i was home sick from school. i remember thinking “lucky kids, they get out of school for a week at a time”. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/45 "2010-10-12T17:14:05Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This song always makes me want to go and go hug my own kids. I don’t have any kids, but the song does make me get up from the computer and go play with my dogs. ---
**Author:** ![SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SevenOfTeemingMillions)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/46 "2010-10-13T08:19:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > [@Meltdown](#): > > > > My interpretation is slightly different. I don’t think the son is pissed off at his father, I think he just grew up to be a self-centered bastard like his father. He’s not angry, he just doesn’t want to interrupt his routine. > > This is my view also. The son isn’t angry at the father and trying to pay him back. The son has become the father and he’s indifferent towards his family just like the father was. I agree that the son was not motivated by anger or the need for revenge. I’ve always felt that the end was about the father feeling regret and wishing that he did things differently so that his son won’t grow up to be “just like me”. Oh, forgot to say that I totally love this song! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/47 "2010-10-13T15:00:26Z")
I was going to post a reply but Dio said what I would have said. The song is about missed opportunities, not anger and resentment. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/48 "2010-10-13T16:09:24Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > My interpretation is slightly different. I don’t think the son is pissed off at his father, I think he just grew up to be a self-centered bastard like his father. He’s not angry, he just doesn’t want to interrupt his routine. That was always my take on the situation, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/49 "2010-10-13T16:22:25Z")
There’s also an element of putting things off into an indefinite future. I’m busy now, but we’ll do something later – “we’ll get together then…we’re gonna have a good time then” – but “then” never comes, there’s always some other distraction. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/50 "2010-10-13T18:39:20Z")
“Cat’s in the Cradle” lead to one of the [funniest parody songs ever](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrI8V9ffMdg&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/51 "2010-10-13T21:08:53Z")
> [@25.1327\_Octopi](#): > > I read the Thread title as _The End of “Cat’s Cradle”._ Now that is an ending I would like explained. Well, this new ice is spreading and the kids up and froze Now nothing comes out of the hose, Dad. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693/52 "2010-10-13T23:49:14Z")
Ditto to **dtc**. Posts in this thread are like giant neon signs that say “i have daddy issues.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-cats-in-the-cradle/556693.md?page=2)