Cat's In The Cradle-Johnny Cash

[TabooGoose]

This reminds me of my relationship with my dad, he never taught me to throw a ball or even ride a bike, I had to do it all by myself. Right now he lives in London, and I live in New Jersey, and we rarely spend any time together, whenever I see him he's always on his phone. I wish I knew him better.

[mreunome]

johnny's awesome . . . like it better than the original, lol. Also, love his cover of Personal Jesus.

[mckessa17]

Johnny nailed this one....well done......

[ILikeToWatchTodai]

All Comments (1,001)

[MetalHeadViking]

OK. There. Now you have 1000 comments.

[Ozzysuckshard]

@AtomIsQuo Because the world no longer has the same feeling of togetherness and overcoming it's now all about misogyny and self rightousness no one is ever reaching to others The up and coming artists shouldn't be artists and they are the only ones thriving as the older generations die off making live music extinct and the only people to talk to about the feeling of the music only want to talk about new artists and how terrible their music is

[Harlequin2501]

Barney Stinson, Harry Chaplin and finally Johnny Cash ? What the fuck, the name of this sitcom should be How I Met The Real Music !

[psiilva5]

Is this Johnny's or Ugly Kid Joe's? And there are also people who think this is Guns and Roses! :o

[cmerr85]

@psiilva5 Johnny Cash's voice is fairly unique... this is cash for sure.

[lpjaguar21]

@psiilva5 the original song was written by harry chaplain.

[Donkeyn00b]

@psiilva5 This version is Johnny Cash, the song was however written by Harry Chaplin's wife.

[Ahead5ABC]

@psiilva5 The original was written by Harry and Sandra Chapin, and was released on Harry's album Verities and Balderash. In 1989 Johnny Cash covered it and in 1990 released it on his album Boom Chikca Boom. In 1992 Ugly Kid Joe covered it, NOT Guns N Roses, and they released it on their album America's Least Wanted.

(I did an report on this for Music class in school.) Hope that clears things out...

[CastawayLegend]

i always loved this song now i know it was sung by my favorite singer i cant stop listening

[VWBrianVW]

good man

[IsRockThe]

Chapin gives really much emotion to this song. Johnny no offence is sounding like he is just reading the lyrics.

[hippyblood1]

@IsRockThe look it you little punk you wouldn't know emotion if it came up and kicked you in the nuts. this is one of my favorite songs by johnny so don't be dissing it

[IsRockThe]

@hippyblood1 lol i am not dissing johnny i like his music really much hell i even watched his movie its not that just that the fast singing dosent fit this song.

[metro7leslie]

Johnny Cash is great!

[KINGMJ1990]

IT doesn't give the same feeling as Chapin's original...

[MayChild8]

Is it cool if I cried a bit...

[evlipokejuggalette]

This song brings back a lot of memories.

[MissWuWu03]

johnny cash is the shit!! he can sing anything and sound good.my boyfriends jealous haha

[Lordgale119]

Chapin's was so much sadder, but this one seems like more fun, ya know?

But still...every time I hear this song...all I can think of is Thane Krios.

[dorino0net]

@mortalkombatrulz you know most Cash hits are covers, right? Hurt, for instance. They're all really good, and he adds a fucking lot of passion.

[papashangofan]

@dorino0net Yeah, fully agree, this version is so much better than the original, Blink 182 has nothing on Johnny Cash!

[beamith]

song of all the ages

[Cash900EX]

Iconic effort - guess the dislikes are Chapin's fan club 'cos there is nothing to dislike. Cash's best as usual is truly art . . . .

[BrandonM4444]

this version makes the song sond sorta upright, happy, however if youve heard the harry chapin version it sounds down and depressing.

[davrosd]

AMAZING VERSION

[mortalkombatrulz]

i like johnny cash but when a song comes out dont mess with it

[CirrusLX]

@mortalkombatrulz cash fucked it up...im goin back to chapin...LOL

[frikadellur]

Damn, I love this!

[herrminnne]

best version

[MrHendrixlove]

not as good or as emotional as harry chaplin's/

[stanleycen]

what album was this released on?

[Dustinlfugate]

@stanleycen Johnny Cash is coming to town

[ChillyPhilly00]

ehh...harry chapin's version is better in my own opinion

[manwellsteak1]

A wonderful rendition, but Cash doesn't seem to have the heartfelt that Chapin does.

[briodyjohnsean]

rest  in peace fatheer

[MrJohnnyDRocker]

my life right here. foreveralone.jpeg

[bricktop1832]

There`s no replacement for our loss.

[davisjimmer]

love this song and by jc does anyone know where i can get it on cd and what album its on?

[stdelboy66]

@davisjimmer

i found this song on a best of album i found at safeway supermarket in australia a couple of months ago

[DelStrainComedy]

Excellent song that shows times precious and children grow so quick.You put out what you are and so it goes on and on.. Simple and brilliant song,next time youre kid wants to play do it work/career is bullshit and not what really counts.

[jamiehemingway]

r.i.p par xx

[baddriveruk]

This song reminds me of me dad o and me son

[THEALDOGGA]

I wish i could still log into this account now that i have so many views.

[papashangofan]

I dont really get it, cause I have these two cats and like, they definately dont use cradles(I know because I also have a baby daughter who I love so much and she has a cradle). I dont know, maybe its a metaphor for kids being cats or something?

[jamesstafforduk]

@papashangofan

Cats use to/can climb into baby's cradles to keep warm in the cold. Often this led to the child suffocating. Happened to someone in my family a few generations back. Sad.

[papashangofan]

@jamesstafforduk Bro that's really sad to hear, but I think you missed the point of the song. He's saying the cat is the cradle. Basically, it's about how humans have domesticated felines, much like we do with our children.

[jamesstafforduk]

@papashangofan Yeah, I'm not saying that is what this song is about, just the expression 'cats in the cradle' comes from cats climbing into cradles (sometimes with tragic results).

[crikie382]

Harry definitly has the best, but such an amazing song is hard to screw up. GnR would be the worst of them so far though

[bspierce1022]

johnnys version is pretty good, but ugly kid joes is better.

[jjcale1111]

Is there a song that Johnny Cash has not covered?

[mcstabba]

@jjcale1111 Poker Face & I kissed a girl, there might be one or two more but that is about it though.

[raynsung]

My least favorite version, BUT not bad at all. This is still an excellent song, but it sounds too upbeat to match the moral of the song. But that's just my opinion,

[Jonseredix]

Nice version ! Helps me to wake up !

[batboyjhg]

This is the worst version.

[MrPunkrocker1967]

Thanks for this!!!!

[MagykalShadow]

I never realized how incredibly depressing this song is...

[mudrydyr]

Wonder what he couldve done with zepplins Battle of evermore?????

[mudrydyr]

Mr.Cash had the skill to take any song ,i mean any song and make it his own

this version of harrys song is a masterpies!!!!!!!!!!

[sunnyblossoms]

If I was the man in the song and I realized that my son had grown up just like that I'd get cold chills down my spine. And then I'd cry. Because this is how the cycle of neglect begins.

[macfreak18]

When are you coming home dad?

[SzaGoS]

@macfreak18

on my way, son

[katandann]

We'll get together then! You know we'll have a good time thennn ;)

[Noacuervo]

THUMBS UP IF YOU BORN IN THE WRONG GENERATION....

[WillMGlynn]

@Noacuervo Could the new generation just like the old generation?

[johansson66]

@Noacuervo No I was born in the right generation because I get to listen to this older great stuff and the great stuff from the 80s, 90s and the new stuff that out there... If i was born before I would be missing out.

[dwaynous]

@Noacuervo Can't give you enough thumbs up; my father and I should have switched birthdays.

[tcsbill]

@Noacuervo

Born in '76 and not regreting anything my friend..

I have seen and heard all the renaissance of all kinds of music..

The old school music wasnt that "old school" those days and at the same time there was a revolution of new sounds, new styles, new spirit everywhere !! :D

[davedavito]

@Noacuervo easy easy and wrong country

[MrJpreeder]

@Noacuervo Johnny and the 1971 truck i drive, boy i was born 30 years late

[pkm2209]

@Noacuervo impossible, there's only one "thumbs up" button

[MrKingster432]

@Noacuervo

[Tequila628]

@Noacuervo ... :'-(

[ripvanwho]

@Noacuervo

Make this generation your own...

[TheJarhead133]

@Noacuervo shoot not me i love the 90s

[AtomIsQuo]

@Noacuervo How are you born in the wrong generation? For music, 2012 is pretty amazing. You can listen to almost every single piece of music ever made on the internet now.

[Noacuervo]

@AtomIsQuo yeah that's true. I guess you're right.

[MyMalusi]

perfect

[MrTrevormctrevor]

ugly kid joes is the best yea

[metsdude18]

Harry Chapin has by far the best version but Johnny Cash gives the song new life to it.

[shadowmanfan]

my mother told me I sat at his feet and played when she took me to his concert when i was 3...no wonder I loved the man in black so much and never knew why!

[Butown]

ugly kid joe's is the best version. though this one is still beautiful

[TheGamerNet]

YOUTUBERS

Y U NO LIKE HARRY CHAPINS' ORIGINAL VERSION?!?!?

[lonewolf202]

@TheGamerNet why has three letters so does you

[TheGamerNet]

@lonewolf202 Thanks 4 teh gramer leson bro, im realy glad u caut my mistaks, again, Thank u.

[ASH6977]

nice version well done johnny :)

[foiran]

The man in black as a regretful father just doesn’t sound authentic. As an old cowboy riding out one dark and windy day, as a guy stuck in Fulsome Prison, or, with epic brilliance, Hurt, like the Nine inch Nails, the Man in Black is a god. But in this it just doesn’t sound like he is convinced singing it.

[exsequor2010]

I've never thought the Ugly Kid Joe is a cover..

[yehhboyz189]

@exsequor2010 dont ya hate that

[walsham]

Way t'go JR.

Aint nobody does it like You.

[WordlessGoose]

Story of my life..... My dad was never there.

[catlillith]

@WordlessGoose I can relate

[catlillith]

@WordlessGoose I can relate

[rdickinsondickinson]

the great, CASH

[MrDarkShadow64]

Couldn't listen to Ugly kid Joe's version all the way through... didn't care for it much; but I like this one a lot. Harry Chapin's version is best for certain, but I haven't heard a song by Johnny Cash that I didn't like yet - don't think it's possible for the legendary Man in Black to mess up a song

[krustybiker]

@MrDarkShadow64 Seems you're right. I keep looking for a bad song from the man, been looking over forty years, and I keep finding jewels like this. Still, I'll keep lookin', listenin' and lovin'. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it. Love the man in black.

[ATREXUKNOWWHO]

LOL... wow... I agree. This sucks. I'm Cash all the way but Ugly Kid Joe KILLED it and I haven't heard it done better yet....

[dmjord14]

Johnny cash just took this song because he liked it and made a version of it that he liked. Its not like the origional because its not supposed to be. I personally think that is an amazing tribute.

[ErinShelbybun]

@dmjord14 I agreee! I love it :)

[Noacuervo]

let me say that this song is AMAZING

[joshuabrooks21]

Great try Johnny. Harry would be proud....

[danielviteri]

My fav version of Cats in a Cradle, Johnny Cash was great.

[littlemisspissy]

I like Johnny Cash, but this is the worst cover I've ever heard. This is just awful.

[MrSitar18]

well johnny sings in his country style.... i like it :)

[TheBluerayxx]

im sorry but this is sung to fast..... like hes rushing. i like johnny cash but not with song.

[jonathanhukill]

cat stevens > johnny cash

[NightProwler45]

@jonathanhukill harry chapin beats everyone

[guitmartiman]

@jonathanhukill Cat Stevens never recorded this song.

[ISCMULTIMEDIA]

@guitmartiman yes he did i just listened to it and watched the video

[guitmartiman]

@ISCMULTIMEDIA LOL! There's a video with a picture of Cat Stevens that SAYS it's Cat Stevens singing this song, but the actual person singing it is Harry Chapin, the guy who actually co-wrote the song with his wife. I repeat, Cat Stevens never recorded this song, and as far as I know, neither did Yusuf Islam.

[adidas1832]

@ISCMULTIMEDIA ......NO HE DIDNT!.....what you just watched was a youtube mislabled version of a "picture" of cat stevens and harry chapin music......

[MrDarkShadow64]

@jonathanhukill heh... Cat Stevens never covered this song.

[TheDeadMan1001]

THE BEST SINGER EVER ... REST IN PEACE !! :'(

[Spinalcarker53]

i love this ever cover johnny cash does its great

[mraysarissa]

strangely enough i listen to this song bec of the simpsons i bought a dvd and they mentioned this song and i am really happy i am listening to it]

[That1kid249]

This is good but guns and roses is better.

[warwick213]

@That1kid249 ...guns n roses never recorded it..thats ugly kid joe!!

[KJPDude]

Man, I love Johnny Cash... But wow. This is way too upbeat.

I can't fap to this.

Kidding.

[TheUndergroundView]

Everybody hates this cover, eh? Well that's fine by me.

Cash liked this song enough to play it. Not as if the "sing sadly as if it happened to you" hasn't been overdone. Don't we already KNOW how this song affects us? This version is blue collar with a stone-cold understanding. At the very least, a quick filler.

[crutch131]

CAAAASSSSHHHH......Enough said

[GoodTriumphs]

terrible version... love johnny cash

[UrukHai659]

What we've got here is failure to communicate. What I mean is the problem with about 80% of covers. They don't seen or play with feeling. They don't MEAN it. They're singing it because it's a popular song, not because Tommy and Gena were really going through some of the hardest times in a couple's live, or in this instance, a guy didn't make time for his kid and payed for it later. No feeling. Love you Johnny, but your cover sucks

[ZOEYMine]

just having Johnny's VOICE singing this gives it a different way is all.... the story of the song is the same... I MISS JC.

[MoonlitGypsy]

My husband has been singing this song lately, and our son thought about singing it as a solo in a high school dinner show. They had me listen to Johnny's version and I LOVE it! He doesn't rush it -- The rhythm, his voice, the background vocals, and the instruments are great!

[tflyer98]

JC makes it his own - has that boom chicka boom JC signature sound. Unique different and a interesting take on the song.

[Rmott963]

Johnny sings it to fast. like hes trying to get it over with

[schnaps0815]

hammer stark

[Locnar79]

I like Ugly Kid Joe's version. But this is good too.

[tinears42]

JRCash is the greatest always will be. Just one Thing i reall y can't figure out. Why was the flag on his later cd jackets in the corner and upside down. Was he trying to give a sign of distress in his land?

[rexfuckincharger]

@tinears42 that's the record company's logo (american)

[rexfuckincharger]

@tinears42 that's the record company's logo (american)

[IglePigleLovesDisco]

Any fans of this song should check out Gordon Wiseman's song "Tuesday's Child"

[TheMr1911]

Fuck you ALL!!!!! Johnny cash made this song COOL!!!!!

[Nickkibaby22]

i love johnny cash but he butchered this song

[brendalg4]

Harry is the one that made the song famous... all you have to do is type in 'harry cats" in the search bar

[alekjensen]

a baby could sing this song and still it would be great, just because this song is sad and best :D

[KingTekins]

Even Ugly Kid Joe had more feeling than this clown

[KingTekins]

git atta here

[rfwelsh]

Yikes. Not a good version at all.

Harry Chapin or GTFO.

[RDJudesie]

OMG. I love Johnny Cash, (and I REALLY hate saying this), but this is BAD. Not his thing at all. It's way too upbeat. The original sentiment in Harry Chapin's song is completely lost here; the country upbeat twang of this just loses all the emotion intended in the lyrics of the song; Chapin's version is untouchable. I never even realized Johnny ever covered this. Sorry Johnny, you're so amazing at SO many things, but this is just not your thing. :(

[kooodeal]

Johnny put a country edge on this piece and if you want the folksy sound ,listen to that and not this.

[MajorGore]

Sounds like Cash is celebrating with this song...

[daxacious1]

sweet song

[TortureMeMore]

ugly kid joe :D :D

[momofmoto]

Yeah, this is the best version of Cat's in the craddle. Better bass, beat and of course Johnny Cash. And he DOES have a son that he didn't spend as much time as he should have, but we love Johnny Cash anyways. The love he had for June was insurmountable. Rest in peace Johnny!

[yurock187]

johnny we love you!!!!

[theboyswon5]

Just bad! No feeling.

[flynntheman90]

this song is heartbreaking, the worst thing is its too late, the singer can improve and try harder but it'll all be for nothing cos his son will be the same as him, and he will alienate others no matter what

[justinfruity]

wtf is wrong with you people, i think this is the best version of the song but i guess opinions are like assholes everyones got one

[falloutrocksass]

@justinfruity Cash did the version

[MrEleazarA]

@justinfruity Im with you it has a better beat and johnny sings it better it doesnt even matter if the artist can relate to it. sometimes they just make it for the fans. Like i said Johnny did great.

[Ruijor]

GREAT SONG, BAD COVER. Enough said.

[derekthesec]

Lovely song to play.

[crimson1667]

jesus how many versions of this song are there?

[robtehKILLER]

@crimson1667 3

[twalsh1]

Onya Johnny ...................

[BWN81394]

who the hell would vote a johnny cash cover sucks you damn kids with your rock music im 16 and i say that

[bandaska]

great song, great performance, great Johnny

[peacewalker7]

This is a really good but sobering message about transgenerational phenomena and about modern fatherlessness, emotional abandonment issues. We need stronger and closer fathers in today's society, attuned and salient father-men. Even if a man thinks he's not particularily great or strong, he is in his son's eyes and his son needs him for growth- or his daughter too! So please, be a present dad, not a distant dad. Sacrifices are sometimes necessary, for they make things sacred.

[ItalianStallion393]

This song is way too upbeat for the subject matter. But other than that, Cash kicks ass.

[atheistulove]

a long time ago i was picked on because i was the only 13 year old girl who loved johnny cash in my school but i told them to go fuck themselves johnny cash was a GOD!

[TeleswitchEurope]

@atheistulove hear hear

[nextmaster460]

tHis sUCkS d0nKy k0ng B@ll$

[michaelroks13]

You can't beat the original version of this song, but this is a close 2nd. R.I.P. Cash, you won't be forgotten.

[emckrazy]

How can you not like this version?

[Brett87654321]

This is the best version, i think.

[nikkitooo]

(h)

[DENNISTMNS1]

There are not many who can top Johnny Cash.

[Bradass92]

Even though he's passed on 7+ years now, Long Live Johnny Cash, nobody will ever top The Man in Black

[wartsdlogydna]

Have a little respect, this is being sung by a man that at the time was having difficulty remembering lyrics to his own songs nevermind other songs.