<P> "Cat's in the Cradle" (spelled "Cats in the Cradle" in Ugly Kid Joe's version) is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album Verities & Balderdash . The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1974 . As Chapin's only No. 1 hit song, it became the best known of his work and a staple for folk rock music . Chapin's recording of the song was nominated for the 1975 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011 . </P> <P> The song's lyrics began as a poem written by Harry's wife, Sandra "Sandy" Gaston; the poem itself was inspired by the awkward relationship between her first husband, James Cashmore, and his father, John, a politician who served as Brooklyn Borough President . She was also inspired by a country music song she had heard on the radio . Harry also said the song was about his own relationship with his son, Josh, admitting, "Frankly, this song scares me to death ." </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> <H3> Weekly charts (edit) </H3> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1974--75) </Th> <Th> Peak position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada Top Singles </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada Adult Contemporary </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> U.S. Billboard Hot 100 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> U.S. Billboard Easy Listening </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> U.S. Cash Box Top 100 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <H3> Year - end charts (edit) </H3> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1974) </Th> <Th> Rank </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada </Td> <Td> 99 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1975) </Th> <Th> Rank </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> 51 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> U.S. Billboard Hot 100 </Td> <Td> 38 </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> <H3> Weekly charts (edit) </H3> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1974--75) </Th> <Th> Peak position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada Top Singles </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada Adult Contemporary </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> U.S. Billboard Hot 100 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> U.S. Billboard Easy Listening </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> U.S. Cash Box Top 100 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <H3> Year - end charts (edit) </H3> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1974) </Th> <Th> Rank </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada </Td> <Td> 99 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1975) </Th> <Th> Rank </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> 51 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> U.S. Billboard Hot 100 </Td> <Td> 38 </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr>

Cat in the cradle and the silver spoon song