My brother graduated with a PhD in Physics from the University of Washington. As part of his graduation gift, I wrote a parody to "Cat's In The Cradle" (by Harry Chapin, with lyrics by Sandra Chapin). It wasn't that hard to turn a beautiful but sad song into one about graduate school.
The parody was first performed at the 2003 Physics Department Holiday
Party (Ethan Minot was kind enough to accompany me on guitar) here at
Cornell, where I received enough encouragement to warrent putting the
lyrics up on the web. Some people have even asked if it's okay to pass
the lyrics on themselves; I don't mind at all, but would ask that you
leave my name attached to them (so people know who to blame).
Grad from the Cradle
lyrics by Luke Donev
A first year arrived just the other day,
he'd applied in the usual way.
But there were grants to write and bills to pay.
No advice, his committee was away.
Had his quals before he knew it, or had a clue.
He thought "I'm gonna be like you, prof.
You know I'm gonna be like you."
And the profs in his office
and the grad's in the lab.
50 hours weeks and he's feeling kinda sad.
When's he gonna gradutate, I don't know when,
but we'll have a party then.
You know we'll have a good time then.
He passed his A just the other day.
Said "thanks for the project, Prof.
I'll start right away.
Can you teach me the process?"
Prof said "Not today. Read some papers,
you'll learn more that way."
And he was in the library till the lights got dim,
saying I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him.
And the profs in his office
and the grad's in the lab.
60 hours weeks and he's feeling kinda sad.
When's he gonna gradutate, I don't know when,
but we'll have a party then.
You know we'll have a good time then
Well he graduated just the other day,
PhD, yeah, he went all the way.
"Before I sign, can you stay for a while?
Just a few more things..." Prof said with a smile.
"What I'd really like now is a postdoc please.
See you later, Prof, it's time for me to leave."
And now he's starting over in a brand new lab.
70 hour weeks and he's getting kinda mad.
Someday he'll get tenure, I don't know when,
but we'll have a party then.
You know we'll have a good time then.
The prof should've retired,
his funds 've gone away.
He called his grad just the other day.
Said "I'd like to collaborate if you don't mind"
"Gee I'd love to prof, if I could find the time.
But I've got classes to teach, and grants to review,
but it's sure nice hearing from you, prof.
It's been sure nice hearing from you"
And the profs in his office
and the grad's in the lab.
50 hours weeks and he's feeling kinda sad.
When's he gonna graduate, I don't know when,
but we'll have a party then.
You know we'll have a good time then.
And as I finish this song it occurs to me,
that's what we're trying to be, yeah.
That's what we're going to be.
And the profs in his office
and the grad's in the lab.
50 hours weeks and he's feeling kinda sad.
When's he gonna graduate, I don't know when,
but we'll have a party then.
You know we'll have a good time then.
The ending is a slight departure from the original structure, with the chorus, a final bridge, and then the chorus again. I wanted the audience to sing along with the final chorus.
Over Christmas, I recorded the song with my brother playing guitar. We followed the original structure a little more closely in that version. Ethan and I also got a recording, but I don't have a copy of it. Here's a copy of the version my brother and I did together.
Cat's in the Cradle was originally found on album Verities & Balderdash, 1974; Greatest Stories Live, 1975; Anthology of Harry Chapin, 1985; the Gold Medal Collection, 1988; and the Bottom Line Encore Series, 1998; and Story of a Life, 1999.
The chord structure can be found here:
http://www.olga.net/dynamic/browse.php?local=main/c/chapin_harry/cats_in_the_cradle.crd
The original lyrics can be found here:
http://www.littlejason.com/chapin/songs/catcrad.html