Fathers, remember, the time that the children run to you for love and attention is very short. But the time that you spend running after them is like eternity.
The switch in the chorus after the 3rd verse that goes "When you coming home dad" to "When you coming home son" and they both say they don't know gets me everytime.
I've always loved this song. John Lennon once sang a line that says " Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans" Time is so fleeting and we can never get it back. A lesson most of us learn much too late. Thanks so much for this reaction. 👍 ❤
His wife must have had a premonition when she wrote that poem . He was listening and got the message when his son was born. You can tell he spent time with his son. Thank God she wrote it because he died at such a young age It was my favorite song growing up th listen too. My pops was very involved with his kids and made sure to spend the time with all of us. He sacrifices some promotions so we didn't have to move and we could have stability. It is a beautiful song.
Dad and I listened to the message of this song and said hell no. We live in different states but we talk frequently. Do we have regrets? Sure, but we both realize how amazing our family life has been and neither would trade for anything.
Harry Chapin is my favorite artist. His songs are more like lyrical tales. Taxi and Sequel are stories about young lovers that grew apart but have a chance meeting years later. 3000 lbs. of Bananas, (live version is best) is a country ballad of a truck driver driving into Scranton, PA. A funny song that starts with a slow medley that becomes frantic towards the end. Mr. Tanner, is a song so sad and haunting. The last line of the song makes me tear up everytime.
I was lucky enough to see him many times. Live he was unbelievable. He was great to start and every year he got better. I still listen to him some very week and I guess I always will.
As so often happens this song came on the radio tonight while I was having dinner and it brought tears to my eyes. It is one of those memorable songs for my growing up....the sadness comes both from my missing those days, and from the song that is in a way sad that they don't get this time together yet the son still being proud and wanting to be like his dad and actually achieving that. It is simultaneously sad and rewarding. Now that I am 60 with so many years behind me, being a parent myself, I feel this song like I didn't when it first came out. I also have a certain wisdom with the progression of time that I miss those days that I didn't appreciate at the time. I recognize there is some tendency to idealize those days and forget the warts. Sure life was a struggle for me compared to now where I benefit from a lifetime of experience and building resources that I didn't have back then. I don't look back on the struggle, but if I were to go back now with that I have, there is so much I could enjoy that I miss.
A great song, and I can't count the times that I would hear it in my head reminding me about important things. But it's also important to remember that the father in the song was not being intentionally mean to his son, he was in fact doing what he thought was best, and sadly sometimes it takes a very long time to change priorities. I wouldn't be surprised if the father's father had instilled a heavy-duty work ethic in the father as a way of caring for one's family. Incidentally, Harry's father, Jim Chapin, was a famous jazz drummer who I'm sure wasn't home all the time.
@@SIXX2772 He was on his way to a benefit concert for World Hunger. I think the story is that he may have had a heart attack while driving although 38 seems young for that. Either way it was a tremendous loss. There is full video of one of his last concerts on YT somewhere (I think Hamilton ON, 1981).
Thank you!! Great reaction. The way we keep Harry’s music alive is by people like you reintroducing it to the world again. Please do more of his wonderful songs. There are so many and he was a magnificent storyteller. Many will tell you to do Taxi next, but I think you might like Mr Tanner or a Better Place to be even more.
my parents divorced before I was born, and I remember singing this song sitting on my couch, realizing what the words were and crying... my mom was taking a nap in her room and came out wondering why I was sad...
I work 12-18 hr days including my weekends making sure my boys had a better life. Now they are 33 and 26 and we really don’t know each other. I’ve apologized to them several times now. They have both said they won’t work like I did, they’ll be part of their family
Note: Harry's wife wrote this poem while he was touring and touring... She wanted him to put it to music, but he rejected it for a couple of years... And then when he cooled down and took a breather, He composed this beautiful, personal love song. Yea, Peace on earth.
Another song with the same message, that pulls at your heart is by Mike + The Mechanics "The Living Years". Absolutely beautiful & really makes you think about what's important in life.
Beautiful reaction to a beautiful song! Thanks! I will admit I was distracted by the captioning on the song's video... some of the worst I've ever seen!
Harry Chapin was an amazing man. He was killed in the height of his career without ever becoming a "rich man." The man very well could have been a rich millionaire but he focused his time and money on charities. He was kiled in a car accident on his way to a benefit concert. There are to this day charities that run that he started and run in memory of his genorocity
You picked up on the sadness of the lyrics right away. There are some reactors that listen to the entire song and don't really get what it is about. Nice reaction.
The correct lyric in the refrain is, "When you comin' home DAD? I don't know when..." and NOT "When you comin' home THAT I don't know when..." (Gracie, many of the captioned lyrics in the video that YOU are watching of this song are incorrect.) For you Gracie... child... (remember me?) the references in the lyric, "The cat's in the cradle, and, the silver spoon, Little Boy Blue. and, the man in the moon are mostly from children's nursery rhymes. The "man in the moon" is a reference to the face that we all see on the full moon when we look up into the heavens at night. As children, we were all told that's what we were seeing when we looked up at the moon. BTW Gracie, you've grown up quite a lot since your "John Lennon - IMAGINE" video. You have wisely left behind your blue hair (which was fine for your younger self) and now you're a beautiful young lady with a face just as sweet, loving and angelic as that younger self. I'm just letting you know that your countenance and demeanor are still just as soothing and reassuring as when you were younger. Maybe there's something greater than videos for you to do with those natural qualities you possess when you get older. Anyway, just a thought and again, Be well young lady!
I played ball with my dad once. I flew a kite with my dad once. I also saw my dad beat my mom a dozen times and that scarred me for life. Those that had a father that cared are so lucky. Thank him every day.
I remember when this song came out in the 70's. Those Closed Cpations are wrong. Never read Closed Captions as a lot of the words are not the actual words said. If you want to read the lyrics through a song, google the lyrics to it. Even then, some of the words are also wrong in the lyrics.
Fathers, remember, the time that the children run to you for love and attention is very short. But the time that you spend running after them is like eternity.
One of the most impactful songs ever written!
I lived on Long Island, NY where he died, and even now are a lot of charities in his name
This song is a good way to tell if you are a good parent or not. If this song doesn't scare the f out of you, there's something wrong.
📌
God bless Harry. His food bank still feeds the needy, even here in SW Florida.
The switch in the chorus after the 3rd verse that goes "When you coming home dad" to "When you coming home son" and they both say they don't know gets me everytime.
I've always loved this song. John Lennon once sang a line that says " Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans" Time is so fleeting and we can never get it back. A lesson most of us learn much too late. Thanks so much for this reaction. 👍 ❤
Wow that’s so deep! 😫
His wife must have had a premonition when she wrote that poem . He was listening and got the message when his son was born. You can tell he spent time with his son. Thank God she wrote it because he died at such a young age It was my favorite song growing up th listen too. My pops was very involved with his kids and made sure to spend the time with all of us. He sacrifices some promotions so we didn't have to move and we could have stability. It is a beautiful song.
Such a beautiful and heartwarming reaction to watch.
Dad and I listened to the message of this song and said hell no. We live in different states but we talk frequently. Do we have regrets? Sure, but we both realize how amazing our family life has been and neither would trade for anything.
Beautiful song, beautiful reaction, and beautiful Gracie.
Harry Chapin is my favorite artist. His songs are more like lyrical tales. Taxi and Sequel are stories about young lovers that grew apart but have a chance meeting years later. 3000 lbs. of Bananas, (live version is best) is a country ballad of a truck driver driving into Scranton, PA. A funny song that starts with a slow medley that becomes frantic towards the end.
Mr. Tanner, is a song so sad and haunting. The last line of the song makes me tear up everytime.
Such a beautiful song. Great storytelling.
I was lucky enough to see him many times. Live he was unbelievable. He was great to start and every year he got better. I still listen to him some very week and I guess I always will.
Bless your beautiful soul. I loved your reaction. This was a hit during my childhood, and i still get filled with tears every time i hear it.
A heartfelt reaction from our beautiful Gracie. RNB
😍😍😍
As so often happens this song came on the radio tonight while I was having dinner and it brought tears to my eyes. It is one of those memorable songs for my growing up....the sadness comes both from my missing those days, and from the song that is in a way sad that they don't get this time together yet the son still being proud and wanting to be like his dad and actually achieving that. It is simultaneously sad and rewarding. Now that I am 60 with so many years behind me, being a parent myself, I feel this song like I didn't when it first came out. I also have a certain wisdom with the progression of time that I miss those days that I didn't appreciate at the time. I recognize there is some tendency to idealize those days and forget the warts. Sure life was a struggle for me compared to now where I benefit from a lifetime of experience and building resources that I didn't have back then. I don't look back on the struggle, but if I were to go back now with that I have, there is so much I could enjoy that I miss.
A great song, and I can't count the times that I would hear it in my head reminding me about important things. But it's also important to remember that the father in the song was not being intentionally mean to his son, he was in fact doing what he thought was best, and sadly sometimes it takes a very long time to change priorities. I wouldn't be surprised if the father's father had instilled a heavy-duty work ethic in the father as a way of caring for one's family. Incidentally, Harry's father, Jim Chapin, was a famous jazz drummer who I'm sure wasn't home all the time.
Oh God the tears, had no idea he was killed so young in a car crash as well!
Yesss ☹️
@@SIXX2772 He was on his way to a benefit concert for World Hunger. I think the story is that he may have had a heart attack while driving although 38 seems young for that. Either way it was a tremendous loss. There is full video of one of his last concerts on YT somewhere (I think Hamilton ON, 1981).
The mother wrote a poem. The father made the poem a song ( listen to his version ) and now the son sings the same song.
Thank you!! Great reaction. The way we keep Harry’s music alive is by people like you reintroducing it to the world again. Please do more of his wonderful songs. There are so many and he was a magnificent storyteller. Many will tell you to do Taxi next, but I think you might like Mr Tanner or a Better Place to be even more.
You should get his live album and listen to all of it. It would give you a feeling of who Harry Chapin was. Truely a gifted man who left us too soon.
Lovely reaction! subscribed
my parents divorced before I was born, and I remember singing this song sitting on my couch, realizing what the words were and crying... my mom was taking a nap in her room and came out wondering why I was sad...
I work 12-18 hr days including my weekends making sure my boys had a better life. Now they are 33 and 26 and we really don’t know each other. I’ve apologized to them several times now. They have both said they won’t work like I did, they’ll be part of their family
Gracie thanks for making my weekend with you're beautiful music and you're smile that would light up the state of Texas on any night darlin❤
Wow, thank you! 😍😍😍
Note:
Harry's wife wrote this poem while he was touring and touring...
She wanted him to put it to music, but he rejected it for a couple of years...
And then when he cooled down and took a breather,
He composed this beautiful, personal love song.
Yea, Peace on earth.
This is reality for most… looking Lovely Dear.
Yes 🥹
💖💖💖
🕊️
Another song with the same message, that pulls at your heart is by Mike + The Mechanics "The Living Years". Absolutely beautiful & really makes you think about what's important in life.
No one knows how much time they have, there's nothing more important than your kids.
I was lucky enough to hear this song before I had a son.
Beautiful reaction to a beautiful song! Thanks! I will admit I was distracted by the captioning on the song's video... some of the worst I've ever seen!
Harry Chapin was an amazing man. He was killed in the height of his career without ever becoming a "rich man." The man very well could have been a rich millionaire but he focused his time and money on charities. He was kiled in a car accident on his way to a benefit concert. There are to this day charities that run that he started and run in memory of his genorocity
You picked up on the sadness of the lyrics right away. There are some reactors that listen to the entire song and don't really get what it is about. Nice reaction.
The correct lyric in the refrain is, "When you comin' home DAD? I don't know when..." and NOT "When you comin' home THAT I don't know when..."
(Gracie, many of the captioned lyrics in the video that YOU are watching of this song are incorrect.)
For you Gracie... child... (remember me?) the references in the lyric, "The cat's in the cradle, and, the silver spoon, Little Boy Blue. and, the man in the moon are mostly from children's nursery rhymes. The "man in the moon" is a reference to the face that we all see on the full moon when we look up into the heavens at night. As children, we were all told that's what we were seeing when we looked up at the moon.
BTW Gracie, you've grown up quite a lot since your "John Lennon - IMAGINE" video. You have wisely left behind your blue hair (which was fine for your younger self) and now you're a beautiful young lady with a face just as sweet, loving and angelic as that younger self.
I'm just letting you know that your countenance and demeanor are still just as soothing and reassuring as when you were younger. Maybe there's something greater than videos for you to do with those natural qualities you possess when you get older.
Anyway, just a thought and again,
Be well young lady!
You got your rich auntie dress on, nice colour.
😂 it’s good yes?
It’s called a “Bubu”, a different style though
@@GracieReacts It looks good on you Gracie, but then again everything does.
I’m blushing 😊
Thank youuuuuuuu 💕💕💕
I played ball with my dad once. I flew a kite with my dad once. I also saw my dad beat my mom a dozen times and that scarred me for life. Those that had a father that cared are so lucky. Thank him every day.
Dad was away making money to buy the ball...
I remember when this song came out in the 70's. Those Closed Cpations are wrong. Never read Closed Captions as a lot of the words are not the actual words said. If you want to read the lyrics through a song, google the lyrics to it. Even then, some of the words are also wrong in the lyrics.