Songs For Father’s Day

1.Beautiful boy (John Lennon)

This is one of the happiest songs I can think of. John Lennon was genius at expressing the feeling of an experience in a song. This one is about being a dad to Sean, the only child he had with Yoko. John sounds so excited about being a dad, he can barely control himself. It seems he was enjoying every moment of it but at the same time could not wait for Sean to grow up. This joyful restraint is evidenced in the music’s patient pace. Look at him goofing around in the video. 

*note: Paul McCartney identified this song as one of his top favorites from the John Lennon songbook.

Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster’s gone
He’s on the run and your daddy’s here

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It’s getting better and better

Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we’ll both just have to be patient
‘Cause it’s a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it’s a long way to go
But in the meantime

Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you’re busy making other plans

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It’s getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling
Darling Sean

2. Father and Son (Cat Stevens)

No matter how many times you listen to this song, it always gets you. I absolutely love this live version. It is faster than the original and perhaps more engaging. Cat Stevens’s crazy washed up voice makes the message even more powerful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlGLuRlhW3c

3. Father and daughter (Paul Simon)

This beautiful song is full of wise advice from father to daughter, written by one of the greatest songwriters in the world.

4. Cats in the cradle (Harry Chapin)

This song gives the perspective of a dad who was not there for his son’s childhood. As times goes by, the tables turn and dad is the one looking to connect with his grown up son, who is no longer interested.

 

5. Mi Viejo (Piero)

This classic from the Latin songbook is an emotional account of the process of seeing dad get old. Many have performed this song, yet few with the power as one of the greatest Mexican singers of all time, Vicente Fernandez.

My old man is a good guy
He walks alone, waiting

He has a long sadness
From so much walking

I look at him from a distance

But we’re so different
He grew up with the century
With streetcars and red wine

Old man, my dear old man
You walk slowly now
As if forgiving the wind
I’m your blood, old man

I’m your silence and your time

He has sharp eyes
And a heavy build

Old age came upon him suddenly
Without a carnival or celebration

My years are new years
The man’s years are old
He carries his pain inside him
And he has history without time

Old man, my dear old man
You walk slowly now
As if forgiving the wind
I’m your blood, old man

I’m your silence and your time

I’m your blood, old man

I’m your silence and your time

6. Song for my father (Horace Silver)

There is no need to introduce this one, as the brilliant Horace Silver does it himself in the following video.

https://youtu.be/8B2GZ0MfuPQ