June 19th is Fatherâs Day, so we pulled a list of songs that focus on fatherhood. Whether honoring these men for the task of raising children, acknowledging the complexities of father-child relationships, or exploring the pain of absentee fathers, these tracks span the spectrum of the vocation.
"Glory" by Jay Z
Jay wrote the deeply emotional and revealing track â which kicks off with the sound of his daughterâs heartbeat â about Blue, his first child with Beyonce. On it, he raps: âThe most amazing feeling I feel / Words canât describe the feeling for real / Baby, I paint the sky blue / My greatest creation was you.â
"7 Years" by Lukas Graham
Frontman Lukas Forchhammer says the death of his father inspired the bandâs song â7 Years.â He explained this, saying. âItâs a song about growing older. Iâm also coming to a realization that being a father is the most important thing. My biggest dream is not to be some negative old dude, but to have my kidsâ friends say, âYouâre going to visit your dad? Say hi! Heâs awesome.â I had a perfect father.â
"Daddy Lessons" by Beyoncé
Beyoncé and her father Mathew Knowles had a rocky relationship in the past, but she still decided to honor him with Lemonade's "Daddy Lessons." The swinging country tune is perfect for reminding your old man that you actually did listen to all the things he taught you.
"Father to Son" by Queen
Written by guitarist Brian May, âFather to Sonâ is written from the perspective of a father speaking to his son.
"Piece By Piece" by Kelly Clarkson
Written about her absentee father, âPiece by Pieceâ is an ultimately uplifting track as Kelly notes her fatherâs neglect influenced her to be a major force in her daughterâs life.
"Daughters" by John Mayer
âDaughtersâ acts as a call to both mothers and fathers to âbe good to you daughters.â
"I Learned From You" by Billy Ray & Miley Cyrus
âI Learned From Youâ is a song sung by both Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter, Miley, about the various things both of them have learned from each other.
"Song For Dad" by Keith Urban
âSong For Dadâ is a touching tribute to Keithâs late father. On it, he sings, âThe older I get / The more I can see / How much he loved my mother and my brother and meâ
"Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father)" by Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay wrote the emotional track as a letter to her father, Michael Lohan, who was arrested and charged with a DUI following a car crash.
"Catâs in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin
Weâd be remiss to ignore Harry Chapinâs 1974 classic, where he asks his father, âWhen you coming home, dad? / I don't know when / But we'll get together then.â
"Father" by Demi Lovato
Demiâs tumultuous relationship with their late father inspired the biting track, which explores conflicting feelings about him: âYou did your best or did you? / Sometimes I think I hate you / Iâm sorry, dad, for feelinâ this / I canât believe Iâm sayinâ it.â
"Father of Mine" by Everclear
One of the most biting songs about abandonment released in the â90s, âFather of Mineâ details the pain of growing up without a father but still having those early memories before he left the family: âMy daddy gave me a name / Then he walked away.â
"My Fatherâs Eyes" by Eric Clapton
The rock legend wrote the track about his father, who he never met. The track also references Ericâs late son, Connor, who died when he was four years old after plummeting from a high-rise apartment building window.
"The Best Day" by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swiftâs âBest Dayâ is really written for her mom, but she shouts out her dad with this lyric: âI have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger.â
"Papaâz Song" by Tupac
Tupac wrote the searing track â which features a guest verse from the late rapperâs stepbrother Wycked â about his absentee father, rapping, âHad to play catch by myself, what a sorry sight / A pitiful plight, so I pray for a starry night / Please send me a pops before puberty / The things I wouldn't do to see a piece of family unity.â
"My Old Man" by Zac Brown Band
The ballad acts as a tribute to the relationship between Zac Brown and his father, and how it inspired the way he raises his son: âMy old man / I know one day weâll meet again as heâs looking down / My old man / I hope heâs proud of who I am / Iâm trying to fill the boots of my old man.â
"Like Father, Like Son" by The Game feat. Busta Rhymes
The Game wrote the loving track â which details the birth of his son â for his kid, Harlem Caron Taylor: âMy sonâs ultrasound the closest I ever been to heaven.â
"He Didnât Have to Be" by Brad Paisley
The touching country track explores the relationship between Brad Paisley and his stepfather: âLookin' back all I can say / About all the things he did for me / Is I hope I'm at least half the dad / That he didn't have to be.â
"Just The Two Of Us" by Will Smith
This sweet spin on the Bill Withers' classic was a dedication to Smith's eldest son Trey: "You're living proof that dreams do come true / I love you and I'm here for you."
"First Man" by Camila Cabello
Cabello sang this endearing tune to her father at the 2020 Grammys. The modern classic brought everyone to tears with lyrics like, "You don't even know how much it means to me now / That you were the first man that really loved me."
"Carried Me With You" by Brandi Carlile
The song is a beautiful way to talk about the comfort a father brings, through beautiful lyrics like, "From the day it all began/Yeah, you were there/You took my hand/And when I hurt a bit too deep/You watched me as I fell asleep"