I'm almost 60 and I've heard this song at least 100 times - no joke.... And I'm sitting here watching this video with tears in my eyes. Like most men my age, this song perfectly captures what it was like for most men from my era and our relationships with our fathers.
This was one of the few songs Harry recorded that he didn't write. Harry's wife Sandy actually wrote this as a poem to Harry because he was always away performing. He put to music and the rest is history. Everything he wrote and performed came from a very personal place. He was AMAZING!
@@reprobatic5485that is so not true. Just ask a child that has no father figure in their life. You don't need studies. Mothers are just as important but, a child needs a male positive role model in their lives.
@ispumpkinking wow that's harsh. I and my 2 sisters were rasied by a single mother cause my dad died before I was 3, we were a complete family. Did I want my dad? Absolutely, but I still had a great childhood.
@ispumpkinking and you have no clue about my life or how I turned out. You use a lot of words to try and sound so knowledgeable, but you just come off sounding judgy. Saying no family is "complete or healthy" without both parents makes you sound ridiculous. But to try and take the high road, you can have your opinion and I'll have mine. Have a good night.
When my first child, my daughter Elizabeth, was born 33 years ago, I promised myself I was going to be a better father to her than my own was to me. I used this song as one guide for things to NOT do. I tear up every time I hear it, including this time. I don't think I could live with myself if I did this to any of my kids, and luckily, five kids later, I haven't. All of my kids are a part of my life, as I am a part of theirs.
Well, I guess I'm a grumpy old guy who plays games. The children who used to play with me have all moved away and I miss them. I don't know what you like. I play Minecraft mostly. I also enjoy Skyrim and Oblivion.
Whenever I see a reaction to this song I marvel at the wisdom and beauty of the lyrics. With a song like that it takes like three seconds to see why people insist that you have to hear it.
This songs has always brought me to tears as a child. And the weird thing about it is, that I lived through this song seeing my husband do this with our son. I thank the Lord, that their relationship has improved so much!!! They now go to hockey games when they can. Our son now goes to his dad more than me!! Just makes my heart smile!! Thank You Jesus, for restoring a father to his son!!
This song served as a wake up call to hundreds of thousands of people who listened to it growing up, and vowed to make sure they made time for their kids. It is poignant and sad, but also empowering if you HEAR the message and take it to heart.
Harry and Jim Croce my favourite story tellers of the 70's......both gone to soon. R.I.P...again, keep up the awesome job, of getting the songs I grew up to, to the young people today.
I heard this song many times growing up. I have no doubt it penetrated my brain and made me a much better and present father. Thanks, Harry. This song accomplished exactly what you were hoping for.
I'm 76 and knew a lot of people back when this came out that said it was like a punch in the gut - the message was loud and clear and changed a lot of attitudes. It's not heard often enough now.
Yeah, this song hits the fathers between the eyes. I'm 68 with a 36 year old son, only son. Already have an airline ticket to go visit him in Japan in three weeks (US Navy stationed there). One month ago I just decided I got to put some time aside and do this. Thanks for the song post. Priorities guys.
I lost a job in 2004 and have always been grateful because that necessitated my moving home with my parents and I got to spend the last year of my father's life with him. I5 years later, I still miss him so deeply.
My dad and i fought a lot and very rarely saw eye to eye. We were both stubborn. He passed away from pancreatic cancer going on 18 years ago. 10 minutes before he passed, he and i hugged and told each other how much we loved and cared for each other. I'll always be grateful it was literally the last words we said to each other.
this song always makes me think my father passed away septemeber 13 2019. he was my best friend he taught me right from wrong. he is really missed. i grew up just like him
Brings back memories. When I was younger in my teens my dad and I went back and forth with this song. Mostly if I was going out somewhere and would ask "when you coming home son?" I would say " I don't know when, but we'll have a good time then." Since he has passed it's hard to hear it whenever I do.
Get ready for the feels train, India! My father listens to this song and gets misty-eyed, even though he and my mom have a good marriage and he's never been distant from me or my brother.
That's my Dad to a "T". Too busy for me then, and now. He hasn't spoken to me since 1996. I've tried contacting him, but he never responds. So I just quit trying. I'm not mad at him. I hope he's truly happy, and blessed. No sarcasm.
Sometimes I'm sure you must feel it's you and I want to encourage you to set those false feelings aside & try not to own his shame. You sound like good people & maybe God , carma, an Angel maybe is looking after you. As much as we all want our parents to make us proud, to make us feel loved, to make us happy we just need to feel the gratitude that they made us. He will one day have to face himself and his regrets & reach out, prepaid now so that if your life is full and happy you will not make any mistakes. He may bring a lot of unhappiness and frustration into your life. He may be wanting you to sacrifice your happiness,security could even destroy all you are blessed with. He has been selfish & discarded a precious and very valuable gift that you offered freely. Remember should that time come who he is & not who he may pretend to be & don't let him hurt you or your those you who are grateful for the love you give. Be cautious, of him as he seems self-serving & narcissistic folks only take what they want with no caring what, how valuable or from whom they steal. Be happy, honest & peaceful and grow old !
Thanks for reacting to Harry Chapin. Great storyteller. He also had a good sense of humor in his music. Poor Damn Fool is a great fun tribute to his wife.
this is a powerful song. WE "fathers" spend too much time trying to provide for our families and fail to realize what they really need is for their fathers to be there to spend time with them. We as fathers don't realize this until it's too late. I love my kids and did whatever I could to make sure they didn't go without. One day as we were looking at old pictures and they remembering about the things they did growing up. I noticed I was in very few of the pictures then I realized it was because I was working all the time trying to provide for them. I spent too much time working sometimes as much as 3 jobs to make sure I could afford to buy them whatever they needed never realizing what they really needed was ME being there with them.
Just one of those amazing songs that is sad, but real, and nice to listen to. Imagine writing this ....... Wow so real and harsh yes . Thank you for sharing, i always think about my kids now well grown up now, but you will never think you have done enough for you kids or spent enough time with them. lerv from down under \m/ \m/
@Angelripper Witchhunter True love is unconditional. Blood is really thicker than water. You are an extension of your parents whether you like it or not.
My wife and I LOVE your reactions. Don't feel guilty if you don't know anything about a classic song or film.. because it's the innocence that you express when you’re reacting to something that makes you SO endearing to us. God Bless you.. you're beautiful in soul and body.. we look forward to seeing more from you. Thank you for what you do, 😎❤️
This song I love listening to as a child. The music and word's , but in a time when pure love and emotion was simple. I'm a Mother of 25 year old Son I raised on my own. He's married and about to become a Dad. The childhood song has now become more than just word's, word's of life raising a son. One the best songs song ever written. Thank you Mr. Chapin.
My dad died when I was 17 and I idolised him If I did something well, to see him smile and wink at me, made my week Good bless you Dad. I've missed you every day for the last 36 years.
One of the truely great story tellers. I saw him in Oct of 1979 at the Fresno fair---he was very personable talking to the audience between each song. I can still see him on that stage sharing his talent and being so down to earth. I was so bummed when he died in that car crash just a few years later.
As a parent you have a responsibility to your children. I’m sorry to hear that your dad wasn’t around and every child misses that experience and this song brings it home. If you have kids they then become the focus of your life. Totally. Because how you bring them up defines how they will bring their kids up and so on
I always get an image in my mind of the last verse of the Dad sitting at a desk or table with a paper in his hand, as the last bit of the instrumental plays at the end, we see he's holding the paper is the results of medical tests showing his condition is terminal...a missed last chance for both the father and son, and not on boy does it hit me hard, even though my dad and I didn't leave anything unsaid in his last days😢😢😢
The song is based on a poem his wife Sandy wrote partly as a caution about his treatment of his own children. He took notice. (Just as you read; just noticed, sorry)
I am 60. And my time in the Navy describes a lot of my raising of my son. I saw on his facebook: My hero... He said" My Pops". I missed so many birthdays and such. He spends time with me now. I feel blessed.
Great vid. Love Harry and his music. Was on my way to his show at Jones Beach in NY, when I heard he'd been killed in an accident on his way to the show. Cried all the way home.
Harry wrote this song about the time my son was born, 1974 (yes, I'm giving up my age). Like in the song, he actually learned to walk while I was serving our great country. Fast-forward a few years, 2 more kids (daughters), a messy break-up with their mother, and years of time and miles of space between us. Our times together were always too short and few. And now I'm retired and he's grown (as are the girls), and successful, and he has a son of his own. I haven't seen him in a couple years, and we rarely talk anymore, he's a busy man. Yeah, I'm pretty sure there's a bottle of Scotch around here somewhere... Who knew a song could be so prophetic.
I sang this song over and over growing up in the seventies. Years later my mom told me that I sang it because my dad was always gone for his job, Air Force. I remember getting angry and telling her no, it’s just a great song. But now, I look back on it and I realize that yes, my dad was gone a lot. When he was first in the Air Force, he was an MP and worked the swingshift. That meant he was working at night and slept during the day. Then he fought in Vietnam, then was assigned to a base in Korea. The next posting was inspecting bases all over the world. He was then transferred to New Mexico where I live today. I was a teen by that time and had no time for him. Then he was sent to Japan, then California. By the time he retired, I was living on my own
There are so many great Harry Chapin songs. He was one of only three musicians to win The Congressional Medal Of Honor for his work trying to end hunger. He was an amazing human being who was killed in a car accident at age 37. He3 was headed to yet another benefit concert. Most of the money he made he gave away.
This song is so hard for me to listen to because its just like what I went through with my Dad and now me and my son. Have to work, a lot of it was overseas, missed a lot of him growing up, but I had a job to do and responsibilities to provide for the family. We sat down a couple of years ago and talked, he said he got it and appreciated the sacrifice I did to give him the things and opportunities I gave him.
I attended a Harry Chapin concert at the Philadelphia Academy Of Music way back in 1980 and it was phenomenal. So since to see young people appreciating music from this time period.
That was kinda like my story. My father was from the silent generation. He worked 3p-11:30p at GM for 47yrs. Never had time and when I became grown I didn’t have the time worked the same hrs. When my son turned 5 I changed it. (Flipping through the AM Radio dial listening for the basketball game came across this song it brought tears to live that’s when I changed my work schedule to be there for my boy)
@GALMA 0 lol that ad is right here on UA-cam. It was cheeky of them to use it that way. The song IS about the cycle passed from parent to child but I'm not sure "I got a lot to do" really implied that.
God bless you India! Thanks for doing this. This song came out right before I had my first son. It served as a cationary tale for me to never be too busy for your kids. They don't understand the importance of money and jobs but they do understand when you want to share time with them. It's all about priorities. I now have two grown boys in their 30's and thank God for this song and for them. There is no such thing as "quality time" with kids. All time is quality time. There is no rewind or repeat button in life to get a do-over.
This song represents all hard working men that sacrifice their lives to ensure their family is taken care of. I've worked 10 - 12 hours a day 6 days a week for most of my life. Not because I wanted too but because i had too! Shout out to all you hard working and sometimes unappreciated men!!!
Your comment is a breath of fresh air. So many talking about their own experiences (nothing wrong with that), but you took the time to care about what she went through.
I'm disabled & even when I was married I lived in my parents' house (a completely separate apartment that we built, not directly with them. We had land to build our home, long story, it wasn't possible due to another house). So, I "lived with" my parents my entire life. My mom passed when I was younger; my best friend, my rock... But I was so blessed to have had all that precious time with her. After she passed I looked after my dad for four years. I wasn't as close to my dad, but, in those four years we became much closer & I learned so much more about him. He was the person who most influenced my love of music~ instilled in me since birth, really. But, I learned lots about his youthful adventures, where I got my sleepwalking habit from, lol & so much more. Four years to the day (& within a cpl of hours according to first responders) of my mom's passing, he died... Again, I was blessed beyond measure for having that time with him. I treasured the same with my own children as they grew... Time flies too fast & you *never* get that time back. Tell the people you love & care about how you feel every day. No one knows when "their time" will come. I don't even care if it's reciprocated (some ppl aren't comfortable saying how they feel, that's ok!) as long as they know just how precious they are to me. Sorry for the long post... This song is devastating & hopefully you're blessed to have people in your life that you do treasure... Your family... Even friends can be our chosen family (i have a few)... Share love while you can... To everyone you can. 💞✌🏻️💖
My dad was a journalist for years and traveled a lot so my earliest memories of him are scarce but I was always super excited to be with him. When I was 4 I said this song reminded me of him and inside of a year he changed his career to be with us more.
Well, that's one of the all-time greatest songs ever.
Very effective
Yes it is
It really is.
Thank you India. It's a great song. About a father and son.
And Time
I'm almost 60 and I've heard this song at least 100 times - no joke....
And I'm sitting here watching this video with tears in my eyes. Like most men my age, this song perfectly captures what it was like for most men from my era and our relationships with our fathers.
At least.
This is the very first song I heard after my son was born. I took it as a message. My son has grown to be the greatest man I know.
👍
@@kdiamond949 Thank you.
This was one of the few songs Harry recorded that he didn't write. Harry's wife Sandy actually wrote this as a poem to Harry because he was always away performing. He put to music and the rest is history. Everything he wrote and performed came from a very personal place. He was AMAZING!
Dad's are so important in their children's lives!
Ironically, I think children are more important to their parents than parents are to their children. Love your babies. :)
Parents are important. The gender of the parents haven't really been shown to be significant.
@@reprobatic5485that is so not true. Just ask a child that has no father figure in their life. You don't need studies. Mothers are just as important but, a child needs a male positive role model in their lives.
@ispumpkinking wow that's harsh. I and my 2 sisters were rasied by a single mother cause my dad died before I was 3, we were a complete family. Did I want my dad? Absolutely, but I still had a great childhood.
@ispumpkinking and you have no clue about my life or how I turned out. You use a lot of words to try and sound so knowledgeable, but you just come off sounding judgy. Saying no family is "complete or healthy" without both parents makes you sound ridiculous. But to try and take the high road, you can have your opinion and I'll have mine. Have a good night.
When my first child, my daughter Elizabeth, was born 33 years ago, I promised myself I was going to be a better father to her than my own was to me. I used this song as one guide for things to NOT do. I tear up every time I hear it, including this time. I don't think I could live with myself if I did this to any of my kids, and luckily, five kids later, I haven't. All of my kids are a part of my life, as I am a part of theirs.
Just know she is her and not what you expected!
Aight
I'm glad something so beautiful affected you so much and let you express your spirit properly with your loved ones.
It's probably affected a lot of dad's in the same way ... make time, they need it.
Well, I guess I'm a grumpy old guy who plays games. The children who used to play with me have all moved away and I miss them. I don't know what you like. I play Minecraft mostly. I also enjoy Skyrim and Oblivion.
Whenever I see a reaction to this song I marvel at the wisdom and beauty of the lyrics. With a song like that it takes like three seconds to see why people insist that you have to hear it.
This songs has always brought me to tears as a child. And the weird thing about it is, that I lived through this song seeing my husband do this with our son. I thank the Lord, that their relationship has improved so much!!! They now go to hockey games when they can. Our son now goes to his dad more than me!! Just makes my heart smile!! Thank You Jesus, for restoring a father to his son!!
Aaaaand now we're all crying. Dang it, India!
I"M NOT CRYING! YOU'RE CRYING!
@@brianl8481 I have something in my eye...
@@brianl8481
I have a lot of something in my eyes.....
What?
Yes it brings tear
As a divorced father of a son and two daughters, this song haunts me.
Shannon McCullough Me too.. 😕
They are still your kids! So do the DAD thing!
Robert Quinting after my stroke I think they can’t relate I don’t talk that good.
When we die please leave them a memory I think they think of me at times.
I have 2 nieces that a re grown up and I still do background checks on their man friends!
This song served as a wake up call to hundreds of thousands of people who listened to it growing up, and vowed to make sure they made time for their kids. It is poignant and sad, but also empowering if you HEAR the message and take it to heart.
Harry and Jim Croce my favourite story tellers of the 70's......both gone to soon. R.I.P...again, keep up the awesome job, of getting the songs I grew up to, to the young people today.
I heard this song many times growing up. I have no doubt it penetrated my brain and made me a much better and present father. Thanks, Harry. This song accomplished exactly what you were hoping for.
I've always made sure to spend time with my parents and family even as I've grown older. This song has a great story and lesson to teach.
Glad to hear that. I sure wasn't a good Father.
Good for you Sweetheart X
same here.
Always tear up when listening to this song, damn
"Singer-songwriters" Chapin, Croce, John Denver all died too soon.
So true, always feel the loss, gutted by their passing.
Add James Taylor and Dan Fogelburg to that list.
@@GRIMRPR6942 Taylor led a full life.
3 of the absolute best story-tellers...
Wwhen a song was a story! I miss that.
I'm 76 and knew a lot of people back when this came out that said it was like a punch in the gut - the message was loud and clear and changed a lot of attitudes. It's not heard often enough now.
Yeah, this song hits the fathers between the eyes. I'm 68 with a 36 year old son, only son. Already have an airline ticket to go visit him in Japan in three weeks (US Navy stationed there). One month ago I just decided I got to put some time aside and do this. Thanks for the song post. Priorities guys.
Please tell us, how did it go?
You haven't even started the song and I'm already crying
Music is so powerful , everytime I hear the song I cry.
exactly
Ditto
I gotta be honest
Me too. Everydamntime!
The best gift you can give your children is your time.
I lost a job in 2004 and have always been grateful because that necessitated my moving home with my parents and I got to spend the last year of my father's life with him. I5 years later, I still miss him so deeply.
Holding back tears, the next thing I knew my Father was retired in FLA. I am 52 and he passed at 63...way to young
Yea, I came home from Iraq for R & R back in 2005, only to end up watching my dad die from cancer at 62. The hurt never goes away.
I had that type of dad. He was there but was more like a ghost. Those lyrics were tough. I am glad we could read it. Really drew you in.
I know what you mean. My father was their but put up little to no effort. That's why as an adult now in my 30s me and him don't talk.
Dedicated this to my dad. He was a bad alcoholic and left us when I was eight and always made promises he never would keep
Love, love this song but can't listen without tearing up. Especially now that my father is gone.
So sorry
Sorry for your loss buddy :(
Breaks my heart every time I hear it.
Seriously. At least he had a dad. I always listened to this song identifying with it as someone who *didn’t* have a father. Amazing song.
This song is sad, I was blessed with the best Dad. He loved me & I loved him it does pass too fast.
this was such a great song. I don't know why they stopped making great folk rock songs the early 70s were full of them.
So true!! I have given up on the new stuff and stick with the classics, music I grew up with.
I cannot listen to this song without tearing up, has been that way since this song came out about the time my parents separated.
when I listen to this song , I am reminded of me and the old man playing catch in the front yard . he wasn't perfect , but at least he was around .
Time spent with our children is so very important. Crying in Texas.😭
My father, thankfully, was and is a fantastic man. This classic song makes me so thankful!
in coming tears in 3...2...1!
One of my favorite songs growing up in the 70s. His son eerily looks just like him...
Yes he does hey.
My dad and i fought a lot and very rarely saw eye to eye. We were both stubborn. He passed away from pancreatic cancer going on 18 years ago. 10 minutes before he passed, he and i hugged and told each other how much we loved and cared for each other. I'll always be grateful it was literally the last words we said to each other.
this song always makes me think my father passed away septemeber 13 2019. he was my best friend he taught me right from wrong. he is really missed. i grew up just like him
Brings back memories. When I was younger in my teens my dad and I went back and forth with this song. Mostly if I was going out somewhere and would ask "when you coming home son?" I would say " I don't know when, but we'll have a good time then." Since he has passed it's hard to hear it whenever I do.
ouch
I love Harry's story telling. My favorite is Mercenaries.
This song made me the father I became …. Told my wife that I would never be that kind of father 😢
I'm not crying....there's just something in my eyes...
Get ready for the feels train, India! My father listens to this song and gets misty-eyed, even though he and my mom have a good marriage and he's never been distant from me or my brother.
Make sure he knows that you know.
@@CrociatoAzzurro amen to that comment. Where love is actually shown in time taking with care it should be acknowledged.
When you said "You always want your child to be better than you", you got me...
My dad was there for me and this song still gets to me!!
Always makes me cry... I played it to my younger brother when he had his first kid so he doesn't forget the importance of being in their lives...
So cool that you recognized the song and you can know listen to it from an adult prospective
One of my all time favorites.
It took me years until I could get through this song without tears. It hits so close to home -- It could've been the story of me and my dad. 😢
That's my Dad to a "T". Too busy for me then, and now. He hasn't spoken to me since 1996. I've tried contacting him, but he never responds. So I just quit trying. I'm not mad at him. I hope he's truly happy, and blessed. No sarcasm.
Sometimes I'm sure you must feel it's you and I want to encourage you to set those false feelings aside & try not to own his shame. You sound like good people & maybe God , carma, an Angel maybe is looking after you. As much as we all want our parents to make us proud, to make us feel loved, to make us happy we just need to feel the gratitude that they made us. He will one day have to face himself and his regrets & reach out, prepaid now so that if your life is full and happy you will not make any mistakes. He may bring a lot of unhappiness and frustration into your life. He may be wanting you to sacrifice your happiness,security could even destroy all you are blessed with. He has been selfish & discarded a precious and very valuable gift that you offered freely. Remember should that time come who he is & not who he may pretend to be & don't let him hurt you or your those you who are grateful for the love you give. Be cautious, of him as he seems self-serving & narcissistic folks only take what they want with no caring what, how valuable or from whom they steal. Be happy, honest & peaceful and grow old !
Thanks for reacting to Harry Chapin. Great storyteller. He also had a good sense of humor in his music. Poor Damn Fool is a great fun tribute to his wife.
When my son got his first job, I called him to hang out on the weekend and he said he had to work. I jokingly started singing the chorus yo him
lumpheadthump did he know the song? 🙏
localguy8 Yeah, he laughed and called me a dork
localguy8 I used yo listen to it when he was growing up
But he got the message 🙏
How cruel.
Yes at least he had a dad. I never knew my dad growing up. This ranks up in my top ten favorite songs.
this is a powerful song. WE "fathers" spend too much time trying to provide for our families and fail to realize what they really need is for their fathers to be there to spend time with them. We as fathers don't realize this until it's too late. I love my kids and did whatever I could to make sure they didn't go without. One day as we were looking at old pictures and they remembering about the things they did growing up. I noticed I was in very few of the pictures then I realized it was because I was working all the time trying to provide for them. I spent too much time working sometimes as much as 3 jobs to make sure I could afford to buy them whatever they needed never realizing what they really needed was ME being there with them.
Chay pin. Long A sound. I was 13 when I saw him, my first concert!
Wow i was just thinking of this song yesterday. Thanks for playing it💕❤
It makes all sons and dads cry so to ahead and cry.
Just one of those amazing songs that is sad, but real, and nice to listen to.
Imagine writing this ....... Wow so real and harsh yes .
Thank you for sharing, i always think about my kids now well grown up now, but you will never think you have done enough for you kids or spent enough time with them.
lerv from down under \m/ \m/
THIS IS A SAD SONG ITS SO BEAUTIFUL THIS SONG IS GOOD
Aw, honey, I’m sorry you didn’t have a Dad.
Grew up on this song makes me cry evertime! My brother dedicated it to my dad.
Such a simple song but oh, so powerful
ARGH ! I both love and hate this song -- too relatable
This is my life dam. Got to know my dad when I was 21 and he wanted to drink with me. He died that yr and I still miss him.
@Angelripper Witchhunter True love is unconditional. Blood is really thicker than water. You are an extension of your parents whether you like it or not.
My wife and I LOVE your reactions. Don't feel guilty if you don't know anything about a classic song or film.. because it's the innocence that you express when you’re reacting to something that makes you SO endearing to us. God Bless you.. you're beautiful in soul and body.. we look forward to seeing more from you. Thank you for what you do, 😎❤️
I saw Harry in New Orleans, a one man concert, just him and his guitar, wonderful performance...shortly after he got his Angel wings...RIP
Many people, including myself have lived this scenario. Kinda hits home.
It sure happens that way,and the next thing you know,dad's got 6 months to live and you regret not spending more time.
This song I love listening to as a child. The music and word's , but in a time when pure love and emotion was simple. I'm a Mother of 25 year old Son I raised on my own. He's married and about to become a Dad. The childhood song has now become more than just word's, word's of life raising a son. One the best songs song ever written. Thank you Mr. Chapin.
My dad died when I was 17 and I idolised him
If I did something well, to see him smile and wink at me, made my week
Good bless you Dad. I've missed you every day for the last 36 years.
My daughter hardly ever comes by, and I really miss my grandkids. She is so busy, and I can't condemn her. But I wish.......
Darrell Pidgeon back at you brother.
try going to your daughter and grandkids if you can Write them LETTERS AND THEM TOO THEM IN POSTAL SERVICE
The life of a trucker, can give the same feelings and moments..
One of the truely great story tellers. I saw him in Oct of 1979 at the Fresno fair---he was very personable talking to the audience between each song. I can still see him on that stage sharing his talent and being so down to earth. I was so bummed when he died in that car crash just a few years later.
As a parent you have a responsibility to your children. I’m sorry to hear that your dad wasn’t around and every child misses that experience and this song brings it home. If you have kids they then become the focus of your life. Totally. Because how you bring them up defines how they will bring their kids up and so on
I always get an image in my mind of the last verse of the Dad sitting at a desk or table with a paper in his hand, as the last bit of the instrumental plays at the end, we see he's holding the paper is the results of medical tests showing his condition is terminal...a missed last chance for both the father and son, and not on boy does it hit me hard, even though my dad and I didn't leave anything unsaid in his last days😢😢😢
The song is based on a poem his wife Sandy wrote partly as a caution about his treatment of his own children. He took notice. (Just as you read; just noticed, sorry)
AJ Johnson Oddly, it was his only #1 song.
His wife did not write the lyrics, Harry's mother did.
@Dana Chapin Are you related to Harry???
Every parent should listen to this every week, because time goes by so incredibly fast.
Saw Chapin perform in 75. Great concert. Great story teller along with Croce and James Taylor.
Definitely one of those life songs !
Facts!! My sons are grown. Still trying hard for their dad. Hope he realizes before it's too late. 😔😢 my dad was absent. Never wanted that.
I am 60. And my time in the Navy describes a lot of my raising of my son. I saw on his facebook: My hero... He said" My Pops". I missed so many birthdays and such. He spends time with me now. I feel blessed.
A very truthful song that makes many fathers look back with regrets, and sons looking back with regrets as well.
Great vid. Love Harry and his music. Was on my way to his show at Jones Beach in NY, when I heard he'd been killed in an accident on his way to the show. Cried all the way home.
This song is timeless and it’s one of my favorites. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
If this song doesn't make you cry you're not human. RIP HARRY ✌🌻🌻
One of my favorite songs of all time.
Can’t help it makes me cry every goddamn time
I just really love how India actually listens to lyrics
yep
Harry wrote this song about the time my son was born, 1974 (yes, I'm giving up my age). Like in the song, he actually learned to walk while I was serving our great country. Fast-forward a few years, 2 more kids (daughters), a messy break-up with their mother, and years of time and miles of space between us. Our times together were always too short and few. And now I'm retired and he's grown (as are the girls), and successful, and he has a son of his own. I haven't seen him in a couple years, and we rarely talk anymore, he's a busy man. Yeah, I'm pretty sure there's a bottle of Scotch around here somewhere... Who knew a song could be so prophetic.
I sang this song over and over growing up in the seventies. Years later my mom told me that I sang it because my dad was always gone for his job, Air Force. I remember getting angry and telling her no, it’s just a great song. But now, I look back on it and I realize that yes, my dad was gone a lot. When he was first in the Air Force, he was an MP and worked the swingshift. That meant he was working at night and slept during the day. Then he fought in Vietnam, then was assigned to a base in Korea. The next posting was inspecting bases all over the world. He was then transferred to New Mexico where I live today. I was a teen by that time and had no time for him. Then he was sent to Japan, then California. By the time he retired, I was living on my own
There are so many great Harry Chapin songs. He was one of only three musicians to win The Congressional Medal Of Honor for his work trying to end hunger. He was an amazing human being who was killed in a car accident at age 37. He3 was headed to yet another benefit concert. Most of the money he made he gave away.
Harry Chapin was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal (a civilian award) not the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is only given to military members.
Wow, didn't know that thank you for the information, sounds like we list a good one there 🐈💙
This song is so hard for me to listen to because its just like what I went through with my Dad and now me and my son. Have to work, a lot of it was overseas, missed a lot of him growing up, but I had a job to do and responsibilities to provide for the family. We sat down a couple of years ago and talked, he said he got it and appreciated the sacrifice I did to give him the things and opportunities I gave him.
I attended a Harry Chapin concert at the Philadelphia Academy Of Music way back in 1980 and it was phenomenal. So since to see young people appreciating music from this time period.
That was kinda like my story. My father was from the silent generation. He worked 3p-11:30p at GM for 47yrs. Never had time and when I became grown I didn’t have the time worked the same hrs. When my son turned 5 I changed it. (Flipping through the AM Radio dial listening for the basketball game came across this song it brought tears to live that’s when I changed my work schedule to be there for my boy)
He did have a dad, but not in the way that mattered most, that's what I get out of it.
@GALMA 0 lol that ad is right here on UA-cam. It was cheeky of them to use it that way. The song IS about the cycle passed from parent to child but I'm not sure "I got a lot to do" really implied that.
Damn
Since you like this song, you might like the song "Time In A Bottle" by Jim Croce.
That is an elegant and beautiful song. Sad song but says a lot. Sometimes it is what we miss having that haunts us.
That's a killer track!
God bless you India! Thanks for doing this. This song came out right before I had my first son. It served as a cationary tale for me to never be too busy for your kids. They don't understand the importance of money and jobs but they do understand when you want to share time with them. It's all about priorities. I now have two grown boys in their 30's and thank God for this song and for them. There is no such thing as "quality time" with kids. All time is quality time. There is no rewind or repeat button in life to get a do-over.
This song represents all hard working men that sacrifice their lives to ensure their family is taken care of. I've worked 10 - 12 hours a day 6 days a week for most of my life. Not because I wanted too but because i had too! Shout out to all you hard working and sometimes unappreciated men!!!
Always a sad song!
Sorry you didn't have a dad thank you for sharing.
Your comment is a breath of fresh air. So many talking about their own experiences (nothing wrong with that), but you took the time to care about what she went through.
I'm disabled & even when I was married I lived in my parents' house (a completely separate apartment that we built, not directly with them. We had land to build our home, long story, it wasn't possible due to another house). So, I "lived with" my parents my entire life.
My mom passed when I was younger; my best friend, my rock... But I was so blessed to have had all that precious time with her. After she passed I looked after my dad for four years. I wasn't as close to my dad, but, in those four years we became much closer & I learned so much more about him. He was the person who most influenced my love of music~ instilled in me since birth, really. But, I learned lots about his youthful adventures, where I got my sleepwalking habit from, lol & so much more. Four years to the day (& within a cpl of hours according to first responders) of my mom's passing, he died... Again, I was blessed beyond measure for having that time with him.
I treasured the same with my own children as they grew... Time flies too fast & you *never* get that time back.
Tell the people you love & care about how you feel every day. No one knows when "their time" will come. I don't even care if it's reciprocated (some ppl aren't comfortable saying how they feel, that's ok!) as long as they know just how precious they are to me.
Sorry for the long post... This song is devastating & hopefully you're blessed to have people in your life that you do treasure... Your family... Even friends can be our chosen family (i have a few)... Share love while you can... To everyone you can. 💞✌🏻️💖
My dad was a journalist for years and traveled a lot so my earliest memories of him are scarce but I was always super excited to be with him. When I was 4 I said this song reminded me of him and inside of a year he changed his career to be with us more.