Harry Chapin

Harry Chapin was a folk singer who was popular in the early 1970s. When I would listen to his songs when I ws in my early 20's, I noticed his songs were stories about life. I knew many of his songs word for word, but not until I was in Dr. Bennett's class on Ecclesiastes and had to relate it to everyday life did Harry Chapin's words take on new meaning to me.

Cat's in the Cradle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHdVEk1tHco

A 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 talking '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 in the moon.
"When you coming 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,
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

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 he 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 in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired and 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 could find the time.
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got 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.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

"Cats in the Cradle" is a song about a man caught up in his job and he finds that he misses all the pleasures of seeing his son grow up. Now he is an old man and his son is too busy to spend time with him. "My boy was just like me." The message is, take time to enjoy the gifts from God.

Circle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu9dfdYCZhM

The above performance was given in Hamilton, ONT. Harry would die 11 months later. My understanding is that this was his last recorded concert. Here are the lyrics:

Circle

All my life's a circle;
Sunrise and sundown; (Ecclesiastes 1:5)
Moon rolls thru the nighttime;
Till the daybreak comes around.
All my life's a circle;
But I can't tell you why;
Season's spinning round again;
The years keep rollin' by.

It seems like I've been here before;
I can't remember when;
But I have this funny feeling;
That we'll all be together again.
No straight lines make up my life; (Ecc. 1:15, 7:13)
And all my roads have bends;
There's no clear-cut beginnings;
And so far no dead-ends.

Chorus

I found you a thousand times;
I guess you done the same;
But then we lose each other;
It's like a children's game;

As I find you here again;
A thought runs through my mind;
Our love is like a circle;
Let's go 'round one more time.

The words to "Circle" reflect many points that we have studied in Ecclesiastes. While I have no idea if Harry Chapin was a student of the Bible, I have seen that many of his songs are a mirror of life, and the Bible is the book of life. The first few lines of "Circle" seem to resemble the ongoing nature of life. In the second verse of the song, I see Chapin singing about how he can't see the future or change the future. I see the sovereignty of God here - the singer is not in control.