For Father’s Day I rustled up some greats singing songs for their dads. I know it’s not an even 10 but I think you’ll like what I have. Share your favorites in the comments or just leave some memory or sentiment for your own dad. Thanks for all the great suggestion from my friends and followers in twitter. This is dedicated to my own father Jerry Max Lane, and my daughter Isobel and my step-father Joe Herbert whose been more than a father to me in my life.
Jerry Max Lane – Swinging Doors – A snippet of a leaving and drinking song by my dad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QphvJhBKUho
Conway Twitty – ‘That’s My Job’- For such a macho genre Country Music has never been shy about it’s sentimentality. And nobody could deliver the heartstrings yanking goods like Mr. Conway Twitty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGstAcxrl7I
George Strait – ‘Love Without End, Amen’ – King George gives Twitty a run for his money. Love Without End, Amen is Cat’s in the Cradle with a better ending.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrTidoW2Erc
Guy Clark – ‘Randall Knife’ – Storytelling get’s no better than Clark’s use of a battered knife as a metaphor for life and a conduit for letting go.
Loretta Lynn – ‘They Don’t Make ‘Em Like My Daddy Anymore’ – The ultimate daddy’s girl! The Coal Miners Daughters sings the praises and quiet grace of her daddy
Charlie Louvin – ‘See the Big Man Cry’ – The jaunty tone of Louvin’s famous “See the Big Man Cry” belies the heartache of a man that sees his boy while walking on the sidewalk on day but can’t approach him and his ex-wide due to court orders.
Reba McEntire – ‘The Greatest Man I Never Knew’ – The darker side of Loretta’s tune. A man’s quiet grace leads to isolation and alienation from his daughter.
Shooter Jennings – It Ain’t Easy – Shooter relays some wisdom on career and manhood handed down from his daddy.
Brad Paisley – ‘Anything Like Me’ – Brad Paisley is a cut above the typical Music City hat acts and his performance of this song on impending fatherhood shows as much.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZazrQYirYLs[/youtube]
Jamey Johnson – ‘The Dollar’ – Even early in his career and with all the production sheen Johnson is a great songwriter. This is a tale of a boy that saves his change to buy time with his overworked father. An anthem to family challenges in these tough economic times.
John Prine – My Old Man – Tell ’em you love ’em while they’re on this side of the ground.
My hand burned for the Randall Knife
there in the bottom drawer.
I found a tear for my father’s life
and all that it stood for.
I’m not sure I know a more moving, heartfelt, song lyric to describe the feelings of son for his dad.
My dad turned 76 two weeks ago. In many respects, Harry Chapin’s Cats in the Cradle has typified our lives and relationship. When the day comes, I’m sure Guy’s Randall Clark will be even more difficult for me to listen to.
toomuchcountry , It is an example of master storytelling. Thanks for sharing of your story with your father.
Here is a song with no where near the depth of the works of art listed above. But for all of the dads out there with daughters. This song is from one imperfect dad’s perspective about all of the guys who want to date his baby girl.
Thanks for the list. My father was a Johnny Cash fan, but who isn’t. So here is a song from the Man In Black that my dad- Sam The Man – would have liked.
Solitary Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5rVmXyZP5s&feature=related