Harry Forster Chapin (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter best known for his folk rock songs including "Taxi," "W*O*L*D," "Sniper", "Flowers Are Red," and the No. 1 hit "Cat's in the Cradle." Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.
Chapin was born into a middle-class family in New York City, the second of four children who also included future musicians Tom and Steve. His parents were Jeanne Elspeth (née Burke) and Jim Chapin, a legendary percussionist. He had English ancestry, his great-grandparents having immigrated in the late 19th century. His parents divorced in 1950, with Elspeth retaining custody of their four sons, as Jim spent much of his time on the road as a drummer for Big band era acts such as Woody Herman. She married Films in Review magazine editor Henry Hart a few years later. Chapin's maternal grandfather was literary critic Kenneth Burke.
He's the last of the protest singers,
Selling truth and commitment,
He don't get much work these days,
He's billed as a novelty act,
And he stands there with his thumb out,
Hitching a ride towards the rainbow,
That only he sees shining there,
They say he's a fool, and that's a fact,
Oh, oh, oh....
Yes he's the last of the protest singers,
Staring, as he's strumming,
For he sees the dark clouds coming now,
And he says he feels those first few drops,
He sees he cannot reach them,
So he tries to sing out louder,
And I say, "you're getting hoarser boy,
He says, "should I give up and stop?"
Oh, oh, oh...
Chorus:
But I say, "that's really not good enough, cause there's enough of that kind of stuff"
And I say, "that's really not good enough, cause there's enough of that kind of stuff"
And he says, "I can't believe nobody cares anymore,
And he says, "I can't believe nobody shares anymore,
And he says, "I can't believe nobody cares like before,
He says, "I can't believe it's really true, don't you care anymore?"
Yes he's the last of the protest singers,
But sometimes I believe him,
As he stands on his cold street corner saying,
"It's what I say not what I am",
But late at night, I hold him,
He shivers and starts his crying and says,
"Should I just play some rock and roll,
cause nobody really gives a damn?"
Oh, oh, oh...
Chorus:
Yes he's the last of the protest singers,
Selling truth and commitment,
He don't get much work these days,
He's billed as a novelty act,
And he stands there with his thumb out,
Hitching a ride towards the rainbow,
That only he sees shining there,
They say he's a fool, and that's a fact,
Oh, oh, oh...
There's enough of that kind of stuff!