The Best Songs for Dad on This Father’s Day

(This Blog Originally Appeared Last Year, but the comment section left some amazing suggestions so I updated this year's version with all of them. Thank you.)

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there that have stayed and and continue to stay on the job. One of the toughest, most thankless jobs out there. But arguably the most important in the world. 

Here are some jams and some tear-jerkers to marinate on today.

Harry Chapin - Cat’s In The Cradle

Lets get right into it shall we?

This one hits like a sledgehammer to the gut. 

Then steps on your balls while you're on the ground in the fetal position. 

A chilling reminder from Harry Chapin that life goes by fast. Too fast. And that we can never get back the moments we missed out on for work or being busy. 

The song closes with the singer's son kindly blowing him off as he had done throughout his son's life, and it occurring to him that things had come full circle. 

“And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me, 
He’d grown up just like me, 
my boy was just like me.”

If that doesn't get you in the plums than I don't know what will.

(Fun fact- even though Chapin died at the age of 38, his song has lived on and helped generations of men. According to his late wife Sandy, she still get's letters from people thanking her for her husband's song helping them realize the importance of being involved in their children's lives.)

(Other fun fact. This song was such a sucker punch in GTA V. You'd be out hijacking cars, robbing fools when all of a sudden you throw somebody out of their Tempesta, hop in, and "Cat's In The Cradle" is on the radio. Made you instantly rethink all your life's decisions.)

The live version -

Also, the cover by the quintessential 90's "I'm mad at my father " band Ugly Kid Joe -

Also, The Man In Black covered it.

Everclear - Father of Mine

My jam. 

This song still goes.

Clown me all you want. Call me a pussy til the cows come home. But Everclear was fucking awesome. What happened to these guys?

If you're telling me "Santa Monica" doesn't get you going you're lying to yourself.

Keith Urban - Song For Dad

Another tear-jerker. This song finds Urban realizing all the little mannerisms and ticks he has from his dad in everything he does. 

Jingling car keys, strumming his fingers on the table are just a few. 

“The older I get, the more I can see,
how much he loved my mother and brother and me,
And he did the best that he could,
And I only hope when I have my own family
That every day I see
A little more of my father in me.”

Gladys Knight & The Pips- Daddy Could Swear, I Declare 

“Daddy wasn’t no scholar, no
No, he didn’t have a PhD,
But in my eyes and down in my heart
My daddy means the world to me.”

Bruce Springsteen - My Fathers House (acoustic)

Another rough one. Bruce sings about the strange urge he had for years and years to drive by his father's house. 

"I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart,
Will never again, sir, tear us from each other's hearts."

Lionel Richie- You Are

Lionel Richie is the man.

 

John Mayer - Daughters

"fathers, be good to your daughters,"

John Lennon- Beautiful Boy

This ended up being one of Lennon's last songs before he died. A heartfelt ode to his son Sean. Lennon's lyrics depict him wanting more than anything to comfort his son after a nightmare. 

Reba Mcentire - The Greatest Man I Never Knew 

"The greatest man I never knew lived just down the hall
And everyday we said hello but never touched at all,"

"He never said he loved me
Guess he thought I knew."

The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone 

 

Banger.

Loretta Lynn - They Don't Make 'em Like My Daddy Any More

"In a great big land of freedom
At a time we really need 'em, 
they don't make 'em like my daddy anymore."

Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father

Does it get any better than Luther Vandross?

Cold answer, no. No it does not.

Gil Scott-Heron - Your Daddy Loves You

"Me and your mama had some troubles,
There's been a whole lotta things on our minds,
but lately when we look at you,
we know that we've been wastin' time."

Darius Rucker - It Won't Be Like This For Long

Cat Stevens - Father and Son

A chilling song by Cat Steven's lending advice to his son. 

"You will still be here tomorrow,but your dreams may not"

Will Smith - Just The Two Of Us

I was going to save this for tonight's Sunday Night Sample blog but knew it'd be a crime to leave out of this list.

Will Smith sampled Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.’s 1981 love song of the same name and put a father/son twist on it.

The song features his son Trey from his first marriage. It's a heartmelter, even as dated as it is.

“Always tell the truth, say your prayersHold doors, 
pull out chairs, easy on the swears,
You’re living proof that dreams come true
I love you and I’m here for you.”

Eric Clapton – My Father’s Eyes

Talk about a song that just rips your heart out. Clapton sings to his father he never met, attempting to understand the loss of his own infant son. Brutal. 

(Sidebar - Eric Clapton – Tears In Heaven is one of the most painful and sad songs to listen to ever. Raw, honest, and as vulnerable as you'll ever hear. Clapton wrote this after the tragic death of his baby son, about reuniting with him in heaven.)

Bill Withers – I’m Her Daddy

Finding an old lover, Withers confronts her about their child who doesn't even know he exists.

Zac Brown Band - My Old Man

Country folk storytelling at its best.

Stevie Wonder - Isn’t She Lovely

One of Stevie Wonders greatest songs ever, a tribute to his newborn daughter. So beautiful. The harmonica

Lee Brice- I Drive Your Truck

"I Drive Your Truck" is inspired by a true story. The song was written after a songwriter Connie Harrington heard an NPR interview with Paul Monti, whose son, Jared Monti, a Medal of Honor recipient, was killed in Afghanistan. Paul described driving his son's truck as a way to stay connected to him. 

Billy Joel – Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel)

Billy Joel wrote this one for his daughter Alexa Ray, all about his experiences as a father and his entire perspective on life changing after she was born.

 Neil Young - Old Man

Neil Young’s "Old Man" is a classic track from his 1972 album Harvest. 

The song is often seen as a reflection on aging, generational divides, and the passage of time, with Young drawing on his own experiences and observations in regard to his relationship with his father. It’s a mellow, introspective folk-rock tune that contrasts the perspectives of a younger person and an older man,

James Brown - Papa Don't Take No Mess

13 minutes of brilliance from The Godfather of Soul.

Brad Paisley – He Didn’t Have to Be

An awesome song for all the great step dads out there.

Tyler Childers - Nose On the Grindstone

This song narrates the tale of a father who, after a lifetime of laboring in the coal mines of Pike County, Kentucky, imparts life lessons to his son.

The father's advice emphasizes perseverance, integrity, and the importance of avoiding destructive habits.

Luke Combs - In Case I Ain't Around

The song is structured as a series of life lessons and advice that Combs wishes to impart to his sons, Tex and Beau, in case he's no longer there to guide them.

It covers practical tips, like how to drive a tractor and where to send the rent check, as well as emotional guidance, such as maintaining family traditions and supporting each other through life's challenges.

Conway Twitty - That's My Job

The lyrics of "That's My Job" depict a son's evolving relationship with his father, capturing moments of fear, pride, and loss. 

The recurring line, "That's my job," reflects the father's unwavering commitment to protect and guide his child, even as the son grows and faces life's challenges.

Pearl Jam - Release 

"Release” delves into themes of grief, longing, and the quest for closure.

Vedder has shared that the whispers at the song's beginning are him saying “Oh father,” reflecting his complex feelings toward his biological father, whom he learned about only after his death. 

Zac Brown Band - Hightway 20 Ride 

This song tells the emotional story of a father’s longing to be with his children after a divorce. 

The lyrics reflect the pain of separation and the difficult reality of balancing life on the road with personal struggles, showcasing the band's ability to blend country storytelling with real-life emotions.

Sawyer Brown - The Walk

The lyrics of "The Walk" depict a generational cycle of life and the comforting presence of a father.

The narrator recalls three key moments- as a child, he is reluctant to walk to the school bus but is reassured by his father's guidance. Then as an adult, he faces life's challenges and again finds solace in his father's wisdom. And finally, as his father ages, the roles reverse, and the narrator walks his father to a nursing home, understanding the journey's full circle. Water works city. 

Dan Fogelberg - Leader Of The Band

This is one of Fogelberg's most iconic tracks, written as a tribute to his late father, who was a musician. The song reflects on Fogelberg’s relationship with his father, expressing gratitude and admiration for his influence and legacy.

Luke Combs - Even Though I'm Leaving

This song has drawn comparisons to Conway Twitty's "That's My Job". This is also a poignant ballad that delves into the enduring bond between a father and his son.

Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole - Unforgettable

Greatest duet ever? Thanks to technology, daughter and father got to unite on this all time classic.

Mike and The Mechanics- The Living Years

This is a heartfelt record that reflects on the regrets and unspoken words between a son and his father after the father's passing.

Cole Swindell - You Should Be Here

This song serves as a heartfelt tribute to Swindell's father, who tragically passed away in 2013 while Swindell was on tour.

Stephen Wilson Jr. - Father's Son

This is a heartfelt tribute to Steven's late father, who was a significant influence on his life and music. The video for "Father's Son" is deeply personal, showcasing Stephen performing in a boxing ring, a nod to his father's boxing background, and incorporating archival footage of his father's boxing matches.

Rodney Atkins - Watching You

This song portrays a father-son relationship, highlighting how children often mirror their parents' actions and behaviors. In the narrative, a young boy imitates his father's words and actions, such as spilling food in the car and praying before bed, leading the father to realize the impact of his own behavior on his child. 

Tim McGraw - My Little Girl 

"Chase your dreams but always know the road that will lead you home again. 
Go on, take on this old world but to me… you'll always be my little girl."

Ben Folds - Still Fighting It

“Good morning, son. In 20 years from now maybe we'll both sit down and have a few beers. 
And I can tell you 'bout today and how I picked you up and everything changed.”

Bob Carlisle - Butterfly Kisses

I added this one this year because I’d totally forgotten about it and heard it out of nowhere a couple weeks ago on Y2Country on Sirius and it cut me off at the knees.

If you’re a girl dad, or a daughter with a good father this one’s water works city.

Music man…

Let me know if I forgot any in the comments.

Happy Father’s Day everybody!