(instrumental opening)

A child arrived just the other day.
Another one came the twin-sister way.
One she likes to sit and swing and sway.
The other one's in something called a "kick-and-play."
And I was playing with Ashley, then with Rachel, it's true.
I said, "I've got some high hopes for you, girls.
I've got some high hopes for you."

But a cat's in the cradle, yeah, that furballed creep.
Little girls wanna go in there and sleep.
"When I sleep, Uncle?" Well, I don't know when.
I guess you'll be cranky 'til then, girls.
I guess you'll be cranky 'til then.

Well, it's quarter after ten on a Saturday.
Ashley sits in her swing, Rachel in kick-and-play.
And I'm looking around, where's the cats today?
I don't see any, and that's okay.
Then one jumped into the crib, and our smiles all dimmed.
I said, "That cat, I'm gonna get him, yeah.
That cat, you know, I'm gonna get him."

And a cat's in the cradle, yeah, that furballed creep.
Little girls wanna go in there and sleep.
"When I sleep, Uncle?" Well, I don't know when.
I guess you'll be cranky 'til then, girls.
I guess you'll be cranky 'til then.

Well, I figured out how to get the cats away.
It's feeding time, that'll get them out of the fray.
So I open the cans, and they'll eat for a while.
And I wash up my hands, and I say with a smile
"Girls, I'm comin', and you'll be able to sleep as you please."
But the cats ate real fast and ran back up with ease.

And a cat's in the cradle, yeah, that furballed creep.
Little girls wanna go in there and sleep.
"When I sleep, Uncle?" Well, I don't know when.
I guess you'll be cranky 'til then, girls.
I guess you'll be cranky 'til then.

(instrumental break)

At last, they're retired, they're sleeping away.
And I can sleep too, it's been a real long day.
So I change into my jammies and then
figure I can sleep until the morning begins.

But, see, I look at the bed, and will you look at that?
Lying there is a big fat cat.
In fact, there's two big fat cats.

And as I hung down my head, it occurred to me:
Hey, girls, you're just like me.
And I am so sleepy.

And there's cats in the cradle, each a furballed creep.
Now I'm the one who wants to go there and sleep.
"When I sleep, pussycats?" They don't care when.
I guess I'll be cranky 'til then, girls.
I guess I'll be cranky 'til then.

(instrumental close)