CHAPIN, Harryの最近のブログ記事

TITLE: Cat's In The Cradle　（キャッツ・イン・ザ・クレードル）
AUTHOR: Harry Chapin / Sandy Chapin　（ハリー・チェイピン／サンディー・チェイピン）
PERFORMER: Harry Chapin　（ハリー・チェイピン）

キャッツ・イン・ザ・クレードル(Cat's In The Cradle)を直訳すると、「猫はゆりかご」となるのでしょうが、これと似たような言い回しにキャッツ・クレードル(cat's cradle)、つまり「あやとり」があります。

これを歌っているのは1981年に事故で亡くなったハリー・チェイピン(Harry Chapin)で、妻のサンディー(Sandy)との共作です。見事に「父親」が描かれています。

ところで、サビの部分に　"the silver spoon"　"Little Boy Blue"　"the man in the moon"　というのが出てきます。

"the silver spoon"は「よい」家庭に生まれてきたということをいう表現で、次の"Little Boy Blue"は『マザー・グース（イギリスの伝承童謡集）』の唄にでてくる少年のことです。そして、"the man in the moon"、これはかのシェークスピアの戯曲『真夏の夜の夢』第５幕第１場にでてくる台詞の一部にあるのです。ただ、すべて念頭において書かれたのかは定かではなく、私の頭の中だけでの想像でしかありません。

門外漢なのでよく分かりませんが、マザー・グースやシェークスピアに精通した人なら、この詞をもっと楽しめるのかなあ、なんて羨ましく思ってしまいます。

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 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
We're gonna have a good time then