Dear Old Dad
Posted at 5:35 AM on June 18, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(47 Comments)
Father's Day is Sunday, so now is the time to list songs for Friday's broadcast. I'm looking for tunes in which Dad makes an appearance, however fleeting.
I'm not talking about "Sugar Daddy" or "Sweet Papa". Sorry I'm the one who has to break it to you, but he's not really your father.
And this isn't about Our Father On High either.
I'm looking for songs featuring your biological or adoptive parent of the male persuasion.
Here's one area where the old folks at home definitely have different profiles.
Mom is often presented as a moral compass and a loving presence. Her unconditional devotion blesses us in everything we do, especially when we don't deserve it.
Dad?
On occasion, he shows up as a hero. But just as often, if he's there at all, he tends toward mystery. A wanderer, a drunk, a bum, demanding, lazy, aloof, judgmental, tough, indifferent or just plain quiet, Dad is a challenge. But we love him anyway. He's simply misunderstood, and we know we don't get him, even as we try to explain him.
Sounds like a cheerful morning of lighthearted tunes you can whistle, doesn't it?
Or have I totally misread the dad-song catalog?
Comments (47)
Good Morning. The only song that pops into my head when I think of my father is "Daddy's Hands". We even played this song at his funeral visitation. The line that sticks out for me is "there was always love in daddy's hands". He may not of been there a lot and we may have disagreed, but my sister and I knew he loved us and cared about us.
Hi Dale and Heartland
Can't think of the title...the song with the line :"Papa was a rollin stone, wherever he (laid?) his hat was his home...and when he died all he left us was alone?" I could sing it for you but that wouldn't be pretty.
mcochran - ya stole my song! love that one. but one i don't particularly like, but represents Dads in a good way is "Oh, My Papa (to me he was so wonderful)" was that Eddy Fisher??
my Dad (died 37 years ago) loved the song "Ach du lieber Augustine" (sp) and he sang it to us all of the time. depending on my age, i either loved it or hated it :-)
i've looked for a song for Majority, our buck who sired Dream's triplets. "Havin' My Baby" by Bobby Darin isn't in the RH collection (it was terrible, yes, but represents T's attitude very well :-) suggestions for Friday?
Good morning,
didn't Greg Brown write a song for his dad...something hillbilly...dah dee dah...? I can hear the tune, but not the words.
Then there is the one about the grandfather who was a bum...another one I can hear the tune but not the singer or words.
Help?
I like the song about the Dutchman for a song about father. I think Jerry Rau has a version of this song that you have played, Dale. It has the line, "Margaret brings him some tea with a little whisky in it".
I don't know the tittle. The song doesn't indicate that the Dutchman had children, but it reminds me of my father, who was a Dutchman and my mother's name was Margaret, although she didn't put whisky in the tea.
Thanks for playing the song by the New International Trio, one of my favorites. The Cambodian musician in this trio has passed away but he did make another great recording a couple of years ago with Dick Hensold of traditional Cambodian music which is really great.
Good Morning RH-
The father song that comes to mind first is Cat Stevens' Father and Son. Dad is giving advice and the son is feeling misunderstood. That pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?
Morning Heartlanders.
I'm never good at coming up w/ songs but my father (who passed away four years ago) loved to read and he also loved westerns. I think he read every Zane Grey at least three times! So any songs about books or cowboys would sit well with me!
Dale, I think you described the dad question pretty well. He can be aloof and mysterious, it's true. But don't we and he all play a part in this drama? The "complicated" dad has a vast constituency.
Thanks for the interesting radio. How about playing that rousing '70's sing-along from Jesus Christ Superstar, "I Don't Know How To Love Him"?
Good Morning!
As far as songs about dear old Dad, how about 'Mio Babbino Caro' (O my dear Papa) from Gianni Schicchi? Or, maybe 'Pappa's Got a Brand New Bag', by James Brown? Or both?
Thanks!
Morning, all!
I am pressed for time this morning and can't think of a father theme song. I guess you'd want to avoid Tom Waits "Frank's Wild Years" which is supposedly about his own father.
Happy Thursday!
Thanks for the great ideas so far.
Cynthia, I think the Greg Brown song is "Billy From The Hills". I'll put it on the list.
And mcochran, you named it in the quote, I think.
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone by The Temptations.
Good Morning Heartland,
Mike + The Mechanics' The Living Years is another fitting song and beautiful, IMO.
Another song where Dad is not really "there" for the kid is Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle." Thankfully, my dad was not like that at all - he was present and engaged and took as much time as he could to play with us kids.
If I were to choose a song for my dad I'd pick some ragtime piano. I don't know that there are any Father songs in Scott Joplin's catalog, but playful rag is what makes me think of my dad - it's often what I listened to as I went to sleep as a kid. The piano was right under my bedroom, and Dad loved to play a good rag (but between my brother and I needing to practice, he had to wait until late in the evening to get his turn at the keys). Sadly, he can't see the music anymore and he only has a few he can play from memory. Sigh.
Songs for and/or about Fathers-Dads-Papas and Da's!
An early John Gorka song that has the lyrics,,," I'd like to catch a train and go back in time."
My husband lost his father at a young age and I know that he feels a strong connection to that song.
I love the song My Grandfather's Clock. "The clock, stopped, never to go again when the old man died."
There's a really wonderful song by a local musicians,
Larry Dittburner and Brett Hesla, called Midnight Lullaby. In the song the dad is sitting in the kitchen, in the evening, thinking of his children. I guess it's really a song about peace. Perhaps it's better for a different show since I'd be surprised if you have it.
Kate Wolf's Eyes of a Painter is an option and
finally, how can we miss Crosby, Stills & Nash's (Young?)
Teach your Children?
Thanks for making my mornings so happy!
Songs for and/or about Fathers-Dads-Papas and Da's!
An early John Gorka song that has the lyrics,,," I'd like to catch a train and go back in time."
My husband lost his father at a young age and I know that he feels a strong connection to that song.
I love the song My Grandfather's Clock. "The clock, stopped, never to go again when the old man died."
There's a really wonderful song by a local musicians,
Larry Dittburner and Brett Hesla, called Midnight Lullaby. In the song the dad is sitting in the kitchen, in the evening, thinking of his children. I guess it's really a song about peace. Perhaps it's better for a different show since I'd be surprised if you have it.
Kate Wolf's Eyes of a Painter is an option and
finally, how can we miss Crosby, Stills & Nash's (Young?)
Teach your Children?
Thanks for making my mornings so happy!
Two songs pop into my strange mind. "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash, and "Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)" by Merle Haggard.
Hi Dale,
Tommy Emmanuel does a version of “I Still Can’t Say Goodbye”. I thought it was a song about Chet Atkins Dad but I just found out it was written by Robert Blinn & James Moore but Chet had a hit with it. I had never heard it until we saw Tommy do it in concert. I hope you have any version in the library for tomorrow....
Yes, definitely A Boy Named Sue -- my dad loved that. Also Dang Me by Roger Miller, and You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd... (has the line: You can't change film with a kid on your back. :)
Then there's that one with the line:
...but the love, the love, the love, it wasn't the cheapest kind...
Jasper (I think, or was it you, Dale?) played it the other day .
Dads...hmmmm. Bringing up many responses. What about a dad singing? I LOVE Jonathan Edwards singing "Little Hands", wondering what his little girl will be when she grows up! It reveals so much about a dad's loving heart.
Blessings on all dads, and everyone who has had a dad!
My dad loves the song from Greg Brown where he sings "I'm a man who's rich in daughters", and it always makes me smile.
Dale, I like Peter Ostroushko's "Papa won't you make her a brand new pair of red dancing shoes", and I like Juliann's suggestion of My Grandfather's Clock", especially Bill Staines earliest version of that song. My father was a watchmaker, so that song is a favorite.
One more in the "bad dad" category: the classic from the 70s, "Run Joey Run" in which Dad is ticked off and not at all understanding. Then again, Daughter isn't exactly innocent herself, "Daddy please don't. It wasn't his fault..." Dad might be rightly upset (but, it could be argued, overreacts a teensy bit).
Leader of the Band, by Dan Fogelberg
A favorite of mine when I was quite young is Bobby Goldsboro's "Watching Scotty Grow".
I'd second Mike + the Mechanics and Harry Chapin's songs noted above.
Julie posted a song I've been thinking of for Dear Old Dad, but I'd like to suggest an additional song by Cat Stevens, "Matthew & Son," that also concerns a father and his son. This is going to be a wonderful show!
Dale:
Someone has compiled a list of songs for Fathers Day and posted it on the web at
http://nwfolk.com/songlists/fathers.html
Surely some of those on the list are in the library.
Lu
darn, late as has become usual...
but how about Eric Clapton's My Father's Eyes? that's a lovely one, about needing dad's wisdom and perspective....
i always like it, too, cuz i "have" dad's brown eyes....
k
One of my favorite humorous dad songs is "Baby's Got the Car Keys," by Trout Fishing in America (Family Music Party CD).
Another nice dad song is "My Father Was a Quiet Man," by the Smith sisters (on their "A Canary's Song" recording).
Billy from the Hills is a dynamite Greg Brown tune that also gives a nod to the grandma that done made the dad of note.
Hey - Don't forget Little Potato!
Off topic, but just wanted to say thanks for the concert ticket giveaway. Casey and Shane really put on a good show. Thanks again!
Also late as usual ...
Carrie Newcomer has written two (at least) that are really, really good. The first is "My Father's Only Son" ("My father had three daughters/ So I became his only son."). The second is "I'll Go Too."
As a bonus, both show a positive father/daughter relationship, which from the examples above seems to be pretty rare.
Another coming to mind is Sondheim's "No More," from "Into the Woods." The relationship's a bit more complex, but it is Sondheim, after all. (Father: "We disappoint, we disappear/ We die, but we won't. Son: "We disappoint in turn, I guess/ Forget, though, we' won't. Like father, like son.")
Then there's "Soliloquy" from "Carousel."
But coming up with songs about fathers is a lot harder than finding songs about mothers. Why?
Oh yeah, there's that old Cat Stevens (or whatever his name is now) song, "Father and Son"
Jerry Rau has that dandy of a tune "Child of Mine"
And Pat Donohue has "All My Life"
Let the loving daddies sing too!
Dale, Eric Bogle also did a "too late" Dad song titled something like "Little Slips of Paper" or close to that. It is kind of on the "Waltzing Matilda" side of the Dad songs!
This one might be a stretch, but kinda cool just the same.
Martin Sexton has that great song "Keep Us Together" from his "Black Sheep" CD about a young guy who finds out his girl is pregnant. He's got feelings about it all over the place, but wants to be a dad to this kid and knows his presence in the child's life will be important. So there you go. A dad in the making. That counts too, right?
I can't stop! The dad songs keep popping into my head!
Ok, how about Marc Cohn's lovely "Things We've Handed Down" Some lines show a wistful hope that a new baby will remind the dad of his mom who passed away. I still chuckle when I hear him sing, "One day you may look at us and say that you were cursed But over time that line has been extremely well rehearsed."
Lots of good dad songs. Lots of good dads. Mine, too.
And to the Greg Brown set: "Brand New '64 Dodge"?
Good listening coming on a Friday morning again...
I'm hearing Eliza Gilkyson on the replay, which reminded me that she wrote "Easy Rider" about her father. Her performances of her father's "Green Fields" or, especially, "Bare Necessities" would also be very appropriate.
Dale, if you are still looking for "father" songs, I've always thought that "The Field Behind the Plow" by Stan Rogers was one of the best. He never says "dad" in the song, but his concern for his family comes through in every line. Great song.
Just thinking - isn't there a song that contains advice from father-to-son about "always leave them laughing when you go"? Or am I way making this up?
Well, Neil Young's "Daddy Went Walkin'" off of Silver and Gold is sort of sappy, but a pretty good dad song.
Sorry for the multiple posts.
Leo Kottke's "Jack Wakes Up" off of My Father's Face is kinda about how the whole deal slips up on you until you're the dad. "If you look in the mirror it's your father's face. Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed"
Does anybody know what happened to Jasper? Or is my computer rejecting the music? I was listening at work and turned it down during a meeting in my office. When I turned the sound up again, the music was gone. I re-connected and got the usual message about donating, followed by a pop! and then silence.
Dale:
I have to be out of the office all day tomorrow (not on the golf course, unfortunately, but in a hotel meeting room). Can you play some of the father songs Saturday night?
Lu -- Jasper is fine coming through my computer right now. Windows Media Player. Hope it gets better for you soon!
Sorry this is so late. I had to conduct off-site training all day, so I'm just getting caught up. The list on nwfolk.com is really quite good. Let me toss out a few other ideas:
Andrews Sisters - Beat Me Daddy, Eight To the Bar
The Arrogant Worms - Dad Threw Up on Christmas Day (such a holiday classic...)
Blind Melon - Dear Ol' Dad
Fiona Blackburn - When Daddy Comes Home From the Sea
Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash - Daddy Sang Bass
Chuck Berry - Dear Dad
Emmylou Harris - To Daddy
John Prine - Daddy's Little Pumpkin
Marilyn Monroe - My Heart Belongs To Daddy
Marilyn Monroe - Every Baby Needs A Da-Da-Daddy
Randy Newman - So Long Dad
Neil Diamond - Dear Father
Neil Diamond - Mothers and Daughters, Fathers and Sons
Paul Simon - Father and Daughter
Paul McCartney - Movement IV (Father)
Perry Como - The Father of Girls
And (of course) Alan Sherman - Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda
...just a few ideas...as always, not a complete list...
There are three great matter-of-fact "dad" songs by Randy Newman: "So Long Dad", "Memo to My Son" and "Old Man."
And then my favorite one of all, Harry Nilsson's "Daddy's Song."
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