Listen to These Songs About Being a Dad This Father's Day
- 1/35
Listen to These Songs About Being a Dad This Father's Day
No matter what sort of Father's Day activities you and your family partake in this year or which gift he unwraps from our handy dandy Father's Day gift guide, having the right background music is essential. Sure, you're going to want some great Father's Day captions for social media, but you're also going to want a proper Father's Day soundtrack.
Music is one of the best ways to bond with your dad—just think of all the memories you have that are marked by a specific tune or a song lyric that's always reminded you of him. Especially if seeing your father in-person isn’t possible this year, listening to music is one of those special activities that can be enjoyed together across a great distance.
On that note, here are 35 songs to listen to with your father on his special day. Some songs are more from your dad's generation; others maybe more from yours. But you'll both get a kick out of listening to them together. Some of these songs, like John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" and Billy Joel's "Lullabye,” are odes from dads to their children. Others are tributes to fathers who have passed away, like Cole Swindell's "You Should Be Here." And some, like Trace Adkins's "Just Fishin,” are just about the simple joys of being a dad.
After listening to these songs, continue the celebration by choosing from the many Father's Day movies available to stream online. Now on to the Father's Day tunes! - 2/35
1) "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)," John Lennon, 1981
Written for his son Sean, the singer songwriter penned this tune, which begins like a lullaby and transforms into fatherly advice for his "beautiful boy."
- 3/35
2) "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)," Billy Joel, 1994
Billy Joel wrote this beautiful lullaby for his daughter, Alexa Ray. The song later inspired one of two picture books by Joel.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 4/35
3) "Father and Daughter," Paul Simon, 2002
Recorded by Paul Simon, this sweet father-daughter tune was written about his daughter, Lulu.
- 5/35
4) "My Father's Eyes," Eric Clapton, 1998
For anyone who has lost a father, this song is especially poignant, reflecting on moments you wish you had your father's help.
- 6/35
5) "Daughters," John Mayer, 2004
The famous track won John Mayer the Grammy for Song of the Year, written about how big of an impact a father's relationship can have on their daughters.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 7/35
6) "Song For Dad," Keith Urban, 2002
The ultimate ode to Dad, Keith's song is all about understanding in retrospect why his father did things the way he did.
- 8/35
7) "You Should Be Here," Cole Swindell, 2015
Grab the tissues, y'all. Cole recorded this track after his dad died unexpectedly in 2013. The heartbreaking number includes the line: "They say now you're in a better place, and I would be, too, if I could see your face."
- 9/35
8) "Ready, Set, Don't Go," Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus, 2007
It doesn't get sweeter than a song about the love between a father and daughter. Miley and Billy Ray's voices sound great together on this nostalgic track.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 10/35
9) "It Won't Be Like This for Long," Darius Rucker, 2008
Darius sings about what it's like to raise a daughter, from a newborn to grown woman. Even through the tough times, he reminds himself: "It won't be like this for long."
- 11/35
10) "Just Fishin'," Trace Adkins, 2011
As a parent, even the seemingly mundane moments can be so meaningful. In Trace's case, it's catching fish with his daughter.
- 12/35
11) "Anything Like Me," Brad Paisley, 2010
Brad's popular tune will take you through all the stages of fatherhood, including the very beginning. The country superstar opens with the line: "I remember sayin', 'I don't care either way, just as long as he or she is healthy, I'm okay.'"
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 13/35
12) "There You'll Be," Faith Hill, 2001
For those whose dads are no longer here, this tune will be a heartwarming reminder of your favorite guy. Faith's voice sounds absolutely angelic in this song.
- 14/35
13) "Love Without End, Amen," George Strait, 1990
Every parent can relate to this line: "Daddy's don't just love their children every now and then. It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."
- 15/35
14) "My Old Man," Zac Brown Band, 2017
Zac Brown's ballad is about his own dad, Jim Brown, and a dad-like mentor, Rodney Shelton, according to Billboard.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 16/35
15) "Drive (For Daddy Gene)," Alan Jackson, 2002
This touching number is in honor of Alan's own dad, Eugene Jackson. He pays homage to his father by recalling stories of life in the country.
- 17/35
16) "Stealing Cinderella," Chuck Wicks, 2007
Chuck's song will instantly resonate with dads of daughters. He croons about watching his little girl go to her first dance and giving her away at her wedding.
- 18/35
17) "Tough Little Boys," Gary Allan, 2003
Every future father thinks he knows what he'll be like as a parent. But just as Gary notes, everything changes once you actually become a dad.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 19/35
18) "Watching You," Rodney Atkins, 2006
Rodney's hit is a good reminder that the kids are always watching. Through your best moments and your worst, it's still important to be a role model for the kids.
- 20/35
19) "Family Man," Craig Campbell, 2010
What pushes every dad to be the best he can possibly be? His loving, supportive family, of course.
- 21/35
20) "Keep It Between the Lines," Ricky Van Shelton, 1990
Remember the frightening time of teaching your teenager how to drive? Ricky kindly takes you back to those—sometimes scary—moments.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 22/35
21) "You're Gonna' Miss This," Trace Adkins, 2008
Calling all dads: Whenever your little one is just begging to grow up, leave them with this reminder: "You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast."
- 23/35
22) "Daddy Come and Get Me," Dolly Parton, 1970
After getting her heartbroken, Dolly croons that she needs the man that she can always rely on: her daddy. This song is a good reminder that you can always depend on dad.
- 24/35
23) "They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy Anymore," Loretta Lynn, 1974
In this toe-tapping number, Loretta sings about a dad who's "just one heck of a man that worked for what he got." According to her, there aren't many men like that nowadays.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 25/35
24) "My Little Girl," Tim McGraw, 2006
If there's someone who knows what it's like to raise a daughter, it's Tim, who has three precious girls of his own! In this ballad, he sweetly sings that no matter how old she is, his daughter will always be his baby.
- 26/35
25) "The Walk," Sawyer Brown, 1991
Illustrating the circle of life, this song describes a father holding his son's hand to guide him down the driveway to the school bus, and later comforting him as an adult preparing to face life on his own. By the end of the song, the son must walk his father into the nursing home, and the father understands, remembering taking the same walk with his father long ago.
- 27/35
26) "There Goes My Life," Kenny Chesney, 2004
From a high school quarterback faced with his girlfriend's unexpected pregnancy to watching his beloved teenage daughter leave home for college years later, this song captures the roller coaster of emotions fatherhood can bring.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 28/35
27) "That's My Job," Conway Twitty, 1987
Just as it was his father's job to care for and protect him as he grew up, it's Conway's job as a musician, he reasons, to write a song to keep his dad's memory safe in his heart.
- 29/35
28) "The Best Day," George Strait, 2000
From fishing by the pond and working on his son's first car to watching him get married, a father relives some of his favorite memories with his son.
- 30/35
29) "Dance With My Father," Luther Vandross, 2003
In this tribute to his deceased father, Luther remembers being 7-years-old and dancing with his father and mother at home, singing, "How I'd love love love to dance with my father again." The song won two Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, but Luther was hospitalized from a stroke and couldn't attend the ceremony; he sadly passed away soon after.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 31/35
30) "Butterfly Kisses," Bob Carlisle, 1997
Written for Bob's 16-year-old daughter Brooke, "Butterfly Kisses" shows a dad thinking back on the days when he would stick flowers in his little girl's hair and tuck her into bed as he now walks her down the aisle to be married.
- 32/35
31) "He Didn't Have To Be," Brad Paisley, 1999
"He Didn't Have To Be" is a tribute to all of the step-dads and other father figures who help raise children.
- 33/35
32) "Daddy's Hands," Holly Dunn, 1986
With "Daddy's Hands," Holly Dunn beautifully describes a father-daughter relationship with a focus on her dad's hands—both the gentle comfort they provided and the discipline they gave, all for the sake of love.
Yahoo News is better in the app
Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
- 34/35
33) "Color Him Father," The Winstons, 1969
There's nothing like an R&B classic to properly celebrate the father figures in your life.
- 35/35
34) "Glory," Jay Z ft. Blue Ivy, 2012
Jay Z's pensive song about the birth of his daughter is the perfect song to ponder the feelings that come with being a father.
Say how you feel in song.
