Cat’s in the Cradle”是由歌手Harry Chapin創(chuàng)作的一首歌。Harry Chapin于1942年出生在美國紐約。在他生活的時代,MTV和一些新的藝術(shù)形式還未興起,Harry是以一邊旅行一邊創(chuàng)作的傳統(tǒng)民謠歌手的方式從事著他所鐘愛的演唱事業(yè)。他的歌曲藝術(shù)形式較為單一,演唱方式也很簡單,因此沒能在美國流行音樂史上占據(jù)過重要位置。然而,也正是因為音樂簡潔、感情純粹,Harry的作品里往往蘊含著打動人心的力量。在音樂生涯中,他留下了包括Dance Band on the Titanic、On the Road to Kingdom Come、America’s Least Wanted在內(nèi)的多張專輯。這首“Cat’s in the Cradle”出自Harry于1974年發(fā)布的專輯Verities Balderdash,是Harry最為人熟知的作品。在Harry離世多年以后,這首歌仍然被Ugly Kid Joe、Ricky Skaggs以及Johnny Cash等樂隊和歌手傳唱。
“Cat’s in the Cradle”的誕生有一個故事。作為一名歌手和慈善家,Harry總是奔波于追尋自己夢想的旅途中。在他的小兒子出生時,他甚至沒能陪在自己妻子的身旁。出于遺憾,他的妻子Sandy依據(jù)此事寫了一首詩,而“Cat’s in the Cradle”便是Harry在妻子這首詩的基礎(chǔ)上改編而來的。整首歌講述了一個父親一味追求事業(yè)的成功,而無法留出時間和精力來陪伴孩子成長的故事。孩子出生時,父親喜悅不已,但卻沒有時間在一旁守候,因為他必須為擔負起家庭的責任而奔波;在成長的過程中,孩子迫切希望父親能陪自己玩耍,可是忙碌的父親卻難以滿足孩子的要求。父親把團聚的時光定在未來,一直搪塞孩子說:“We’ll get together then. You know we’ll have a good time then.”盡管如此,兒子對父親還是十分崇敬,兒子的嘴里常掛著一句話:“I’m going to be like you, Dad.”時光荏苒,多年之后,父親成了退休在家的“閑人”,而兒子卻成了父親年輕時候的“翻版”——為事業(yè)與生活奔波而無暇顧及身邊親人的“大忙人”。父親希望兒子能常回家看看,而兒子卻重復(fù)著父親當年的話:“We’ll get together then, Dad. You know we’ll have a good time then.”歷經(jīng)世事滄桑的父親此刻十分無奈,只能滿含酸楚地感嘆:“He’d grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.”
這首歌真實而直接地反映了事業(yè)與家庭之間的平衡問題。當代社會中,生活節(jié)奏越來越快,人們的精力大多投入到發(fā)展事業(yè)和實現(xiàn)自我價值中,人和人之間的溫情逐漸被忽視。生活在這樣一個社會中的人就好像是在大海中航行的野心勃勃的水手,想要自由漂泊,盼望刺激的旅程。然而,漂泊與刺激并不是人生旅程的全部,人生的旅行需要冒險,同樣需要休憩,親人與親情組成的家庭便是供我們休憩的溫暖港灣。生活這片海洋時而平靜,時而洶涌,但只要有家庭這個溫暖港灣存在,生活中出現(xiàn)再大的風浪我們都不會感到絕望。
1981年,Harry在離家去參加一場會議的時候死于車禍。讓人唏噓不已的是,他將要參加的那次會議的主題便是如何規(guī)劃職業(yè)生涯從而能夠留出更多的時間來陪伴家人。斯人已逝,只留下了這首歌來告誡我們每個人,不要總是將家庭團聚放在未來的日子里。家庭帶給我們的溫情與暖意是上帝賜予我們每個人最好的禮物,我們對之要格外珍惜。正如Harry的妻子Sandy在2009年的一次采訪中所說的那樣:“You have to grab that chance when you have it.”時光不能倒流,別等到失去之后才追悔莫及。且行且愛,且行且珍惜,愿每個人都默默護佑著身邊至親至愛的家人,相依相偎,相伴一生。
Cat’s in the Cradle
My child arrived just the other day.
He came to the world in the usual way,
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away,
And he was talkin’ ’fore I knew it,
And as he grew, he’d say, “I’m gonna be like you, Dad.
You know I’m gonna be like you.”
★ And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man on the moon.
When you comin’ 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 got a lot to do.” He said, “That’s ok.”
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed,
And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I’m gonna be like him.”
(Refrain ★)
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 cradle and the silver spoon.
Little boy blue and the man on the moon.
When you comin’ 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 find the time.
You see my new job’s a hassle and the kids have the flu.
But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad.
It’s been sure 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.
(Refrain ◆)