Top Beautiful Tracks to Play for Your Father

Dance With My Father. Photo: Smule

"Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross

One of the most memorable and best dad songs out there, R&B legend Luther Vandross recorded the 2003 album and its title track as a dedication to his late father.

Best Lyric: "If I could steal one final glance, one final step, one final dance with him, I'd play a song that would never ever end. Cause I'd love to dance with my father again."

‘Father And Daughter’ by Paul Simon

Photo: Amazon

Paul Simon first wrote this song about his daughter, who was seven at the time. It might have had more of an impact had it not been first released on The Wild Thornberrys film soundtrack; nonetheless it’s a sweet song that deserves a listen. ‘Father And Daughter’ is all about Simon’s hopes for his daughter’s future and is a touching wish list from a doting father. Fun fact: Simon’s 10-year-old son sings the melody on the track.

‘Father To Son’ by Queen

Photo: Youtube

Taking into account the grandest visions that a father may have for a son, Queen’s ‘Father To Son’ seems to be written from the perspective of not just your everyday Dad, but perhaps a king or lord. The song conjures up images of war, land and family honour. It’s the least “personal” song on this list but, thanks to the heavy guitar of Brian May, and Freddie Mercury’s fantastic voice, it pulls double duty as a great power ballad and one of the best Father’s Day songs.

‘Papa Don’t Preach’ by Madonna

Photo: SoundCloud

Like many Madonna songs, ‘Paper Don’t Preach’ was a flash-point in the 80s culture wars. At the time of the single’s release, the pop star was in peak form, but the lyrics caused controversy and forced conversation about taboo subjects like abortion, teen pregnancy and religion. Leave it to Madonna to make a song that simultaneously stirs the pot and features danceable cello music.

‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’ by The Temptations

Photo: Ultimate Classic Rock

Not every wayward father story produces sad tales of woe – some inspire the best Father’s Day songs. This classic from The Temptations goes a long way towards romanticising the notion of a man who just wasn’t cut out for family life. In that respect it’s certainly a song from a bygone era, but ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’ remains one of the most enduring Temptations’ – and Motown – tracks of all time.

"Daddy" by Beyoncé

Photo: YouTube

For her debut solo album in June 2003, the Homecoming star penned this beautiful ode from a daughter to her father (and former manager) Mathew Knowles.

Best Lyric: "You've given me such security, no matter what mistakes I know you're there for me. You cure my disappointments and you heal my pain. You understood my fears and you protected me. Treasure every irreplaceable memory and that's why I want my unborn son to be like my daddy."

"Song for Dad" by Keith Urban

Photo: Amazon

Who ever said turning into your old man was such a bad thing? Certainly not country superstar Keith Urban, who wrote this song highlighting all the traits he inherited from his dad.

Best Lyric: "There were times I thought he was being just a little bit hard on me, but now I understand he was making me become the man he knew that I could be."

"My Father's Eyes" by Eric Clapton

Photo: Youtube

Warning: This 1995 classic is a tearjerker. "In it I tried to describe the parallel between looking in the eyes of my son, and the eyes of the father that I never met, through the chain of our blood," wrote the rocker in his autobiography.

Best Lyric: "Then the jagged edge appears through the distant clouds of tears. I'm like a bridge that was washed away. My foundations were made of clay. As my soul slides down to die, how could I lose him? What did I try? Bit by bit, I've realized that he was here with me."

"Daddy Lessons" by Beyoncé and Dixie Chicks

Photo: The Chicks

The African-American folk and blues ditty from Beyoncé's deeply personal album, Lemonade, got the remix treatment in November 2016, when Queen Bey and the Dixie Chicks teamed up to perform it for the first time at the CMA Awards—making it the perfect addition to your Father's Day songs list.

Best Lyric: "Came into this world, daddy's little girl. And Daddy made a soldier out of me. Daddy made me dance and Daddy held my hand."

"The Greatest Man I Never Knew" by Reba McEntire

Photo: Mike's Daily Jukebox -

The legendary country singer sings about the reality of many young children with a hard working dad. The main takeaway: he might keep to himself, but he still loves you.

'Monsters' by James Blunt

Photo: Youtube

Following the release of James Blunt's album Once Upon a Mind, the singer shared the heartbreaking news that his father, Charles Blount, was battling stage four chronic kidney disease.

James then released the video for his song 'Monsters', in which he comes to terms with his father's health.

"I'm not your son, you're not my father / We're just two grown men saying goodbye / No need to forgive, no need to forget / I know your mistakes and you know mine," he sings in the video, while he breaks down in tears.

"And while you're sleeping, I'll try to make you proud / So daddy, won't you just close your eyes? / Don't be afraid, it's my turn / To chase the monsters away".

Blunt's father also joins James at the end of the music video, while he holds his son's arm. Thankfully, earlier this year James revealed that his father had been scheduled for a transplant.

'The Living Years' by Mike and the Mechanics

Photo: Discogs

This emotional song is written from the perspective of a son who has a conflicted relationship with his dad. After his father dies, he discovers that he and his dad had a much stronger connection than he realized, and he regrets not saying more while he was still alive.

The song was written by Mike Rutherford and BA Robertson after both of their fathers recently died, but the lyrics were written by Robertson, and centred on the unresolved issues between him and his father.

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