From 1974, Harry Chapin’s #1 hit “Cat in the Cardle”, may be one of the most powerful songs written about paternity. This tells the story of a very busy father:
My son turned just ten years old on the second day
He said, “Thanks to the ball, Dad, let’s play, let’s play
Can you teach me to throw? “I said,” not today,
I got a lot to do. “He said,” that’s fine. ,
And he left, but his smile was never slow,
Said, “I am going to be like him, yes.
You know, I am going to be like him “
And The Cat in the Cradle and the Silver Spoon
Little boy blue and man in the moon.
“When you are coming home, Dad?” “I don’t know when,
We will meet then.
You know that we will have a good time “
To demonstrate Harry Chapin “Cat in the Cardle”, click on the video embed below:
So, how did Chapin’s own children like that song?
Jane Chapin said, “At a time when I get a little eehhhhh When someone tells me, such as, ‘Oh, your father, he played a three -and -a -half -hour concert, and then he signed every poem book, and he kissed my girlfriend, and …’ And I like it, ‘it’s great,’ it’s great, but that was the time when we had no time. ‘
Jane and his brother, Jason and Josh, want to be clear: Harry Chapin was not a father in the song. “He really loved the children,” Jane said. “When he came home, he was not like this,” Oh, I am just going, like Zone Out. ” it was, ‘
Harry Chapin Family
“Cat in the Cardle” was originally a poem written by Harry’s wife, Sandy, which is now 90, but it was not about it Him“It was based on a relationship with her first husband His Father, “Jason said.” My mother was always seeing how she did not join on the basis of father and son. ,
Harry Chapin came from a music family. He and his two brothers made a band. “We became Chapin Bhai,” said Harry’s younger brother, Tom Chapin. “And we played together for ten years. And this was the only time when we were ever calm!”
Tom has his own successful performance career, but Harry was always inspired. “When I was a child, I came with this line that the family loved: ‘Two company, Harry’s crowd!” “He laughed. Harry, he said, outgoing,” and fearless. He had this energy which was amazing. “
But as his son Jason recalls, the path for Harry’s success was never a certain thing: “He was very sad during college. He had failed many things, and I think he was really desperate to succeed in something really something.”
His first love was a documentary. In fact, he directed one, “the legendary champion,” that received an Oscar nomination. But the music won. In 1972, when he was performing as a warm -up act for his brothers’s bands, Electra Records signed him. He was 30 years old.
Tom Chapin says he was surprised that Harry was immersed, “But not surprised, let’s put it in this way. He was great. We were good. But he was great.”
His first hit “taxi,” was another story of broken dreams:
And he said that we should meet together,
But I knew that it would never be arranged.
And he handed over twenty dollars to me,
For two-fifty fare, he said,
“Harry, keep changes.” ,
And she went into silence,
It’s strange, how you never know,
But both of us got, which we asked for,
So long, long time ago.
Harry Chapin “Taxi”:
According to son Josh, his mother Sandy encouraged his father to do Something with your celebrity: “He asked,” Do you want to stay on a hit parade or time magazine cover? ” And he thought about it, and he said, ‘You know that there is really only a emptiness to chase celebrity and try to become a big rock star.’
Harry decided that he would do something about hunger. He started dedicating his time, wealth and fame to address food insecurity. He helped Jimmy Carter celebrate a President’s Commission on World Hunger.
“I hate being 75 years old, and would say,” If only I had … “I want me to have …” I wonder what my life means … “Chapin once said. “My credo is, when there is doubt, do something.”
And he became the king of the benefit concert. In 1980, Chapin said, “I do about 220 concerts in a year, one of which has a hundred benefits.”
Harry Chapin’s time was shorter. He died in a car accident on 16 July 1981. He was 38 years old. “The world shaken,” said Tom Chapin. “The universe was shaken, when Harry was not suddenly.”
Memorials were held, tribute ceremonies were demonstrated, foundations were established. But Chapin’s most permanent heritage is the charity created by him. In 1975, he named Whyhunger with a priest and radio DJ Bill Ayres. Today, Partners with organizations in IT 25 countries – helps to set up a permanent agricultural school in Colombia; Promote traditional farming practices in Panama; And auxiliary programs in the US, like an urban farm and co-op in Detroit.
In 1980, Chapin started a Food Bank Long Island Care. “Everyone thinks long island as the rich stronghold of the country,” said Paale Pachter, CEO of Food Bank, “It is not.” “Here are the pockets of prosperity, but most of the long islands are living in Pachek-to-Pechek.”
On an annual basis, Long Island distributes 16 million pounds of food in Care. “This is about 14.5 million meals,” said Pachter.
Chapin’s biggest hit was his story songs. Most people think of him as a sad story, especially “Cat in the Cradle”:
I have been retired for a long time and my son has gone away.
I called him the second day.
I said, “If you have no objection, I would like to see you.”
He said, “I like, Dad, if I could get time.
You see, my new job is a problem, and the child has got flu,
But it is certain that it is good to talk to you, Dad.
It was definitely nice to talk to you. ,
And as I hung the phone, it happened to me,
He grew up like me.
My boy was like me.
At the end of the irony of the song, the elder son gets very busy for his father. But Jason Chapin says that there is another way to see that turn: “Some people explain the final poem, when Dad called the son to say,” Let’s meet together, “The son is very busy for his father, because he is busy with his family, being a good father, sometimes needs to read a little close.”
Living chapins still feel less than a life pain, but they are still active in their charity, and are inspired by Harry’s message.
Tom Chapin recalled, “James, the oldest brother, said in the funeral: ‘We lost Harry. They are big shoes to fill. But we can’t fill them. You can’t be Harry. You don’t want to be Harry. Just fill your own shoes a little full.’
“And when in doubt, do something!” Tom said. “Don’t forget it!”
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Story created by Reid Ora Yavedhal. Editor: Jason Schmidt.
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