CHAPIN, Harry & Sandy


Taxi

It was raining hard in 'Frisco
I needed one more fare to make my night
A lady up ahead waved to flag me down
She got in at the light

"Oh, where you going to, my lady blue?
It's a shame you ruined your gown in the rain."
She just looked out the window; she said
"Sixteen Parkside Lane."

Something about her was familiar
I could swear I'd seen her face before
But she said, "I'm sure you're mistaken."
And she didn't say anything more

It took a while, but she looked in the mirror
Then she glanced at the license for my name
A smile seemed to come to her slowly
It was a sad smile, just the same

And she said, "How are you Harry?"
I said, "How are you Sue?
Through the too many miles and the too little smiles
I still remember you."

It was somewhere in a fairy tale
I used to take her home in my car
We learned about love in the back of the Dodge
The lesson hadn't gone too far

You see, she was gonna be an actress
And I was gonna learn to fly
She took off to find the footlights
I took off to find the sky

Oh, I've got something inside me
To drive a princess blind
There's a wild-man wizard
He's hiding in me, illuminating my mind

Oh, I've got something inside me
Not what my life's about
'Cause I've been letting my outside tide me
Over 'til my time runs out . . .

. . . Baby's so high that she's skying
Yes she's flying, afraid to fall
I'll tell you why baby's crying
'Cause she's dying, aren't we all . . .

There was not much more for us to talk about
Whatever we had once was gone
So I turned my cab into the driveway
Past the gate and the fine trimmed lawns

And she said, "We must get together."
But I knew it'd never be arranged
And she handed me twenty dollars for a two-fifty fare
She said, "Harry, keep the change."

Well another man might have been angry
And another man might have been hurt
But another man never would have let her go
I stashed the bill in my shirt

And she walked away in silence
It's strange, how you never know
But we'd both gotten what we'd asked for
Such a long, long time ago

You see, she was gonna be an actress
And I was gonna learn to fly
She took off to find the footlights
I took off for the sky

And here, she's acting happy
Inside her handsome home
And me, I'm flying in my taxi
Taking tips, and getting stoned

I go flying so high . . . when I'm stoned


Cat’s in the Cradle

A 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 talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew,

He'd say "I'm gonna be like you, Dad,

I 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 ya comin' home, Dad?"

"I don't know when, we'll get together then,

Ya know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day,

He said "Thanks for the ball Dad. Come let's play.

Can ya teach me to throw? " I said, "Not today,

I got a lot to do." He said "That's okay."

And then, he walked away but his smile never dimmed.

He said "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.

Ya know I'm gonna be like him."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, …..

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 ya 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 ya later; can I have them please? "

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, …..

I've long since retired; 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 can find the time.

You see, my new job's a hassle and the kids have 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; my boy was just like me.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
…..