Father’s Day Songs

I realize it is past Father’s Day, but I recently heard a Professor of Rock episode on YouTube. He listed his five favorite songs about fathers.

The good Professor selected five songs, each of which was a fantastic choice. There seemed to be a theme: sons and fathers who did not get along. “Father, Son” by Peter Gabriel, “The Living Years” by Mike and the Mechanics and “Independence Day“ by Bruce Springsteen are three of the examples. I can relate. There have been plenty of arguments with my son over the years, and I’m not always proud of my side of those clashes.

In addition to those three songs, I would point to “No Son of Mine” by Genesis as another great song in that tradition, and one I would put on my personal top five of such songs.

I did notice a lack of songs about daughters on the Professor’s list. Maybe that’s simply because there aren’t as many, or because the tension between fathers and sons creates a more powerful song. Whatever the reason, I have to mention “Father and Daughter” by Paul Simon as being on my personal top five songs about fathers. Sometimes silly, its chorus can still bring me to tears.

Being the dad of two daughters myself, there is something, I don’t know, different about my relationships with them. I can’t put my finger on it, and I have never tried to. I like the mystery. But it is something I notice, I value, I protect and I love.

I realize how blessed I am to have three healthy adult children. I have their names (and the name of my wife) tattooed on my left forearm so that I am reminded of this blessing every day. My daughter jokes that I got the tattoo so that, when I am in a nursing home, they can just point to my arm to remind me of who they are. At least I hope it’s a joke!

I almost said I’m “lucky” to have them, but that would be untrue. I have worked hard to be a good father and to nurture our relationships through good times and bad. But I wouldn’t have even had that opportunity if God hadn’t blessed me with them in the first place.

They truly make my life complete. Mostly because they always need something.

I know there have been plenty of times when I needed my own dad. He passed away suddenly five days before my wedding. He never knew my kids. But it is because of him, George Lauer, that I learned how to be a father. I hope that my kids see some of him through me. A quiet presence. Goofy jokes. And a great taste in music.

I didn’t think so when I was a kid. His big band was so uncool compared to my hard rock and prog. But as I learned more about music, I realized that Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey could fit on my playlist. They just served a different purpose for me: a reminder that all music can be magnificent.

So I may be a few days late, but take the time to consider the role that your father played in your life. The good and the bad. His presence or his absence. All of that is a key to understanding yourself. And if you are a father, count your blessings. Your children are as big a part of your legacy as your job. Maybe bigger. Because they have their whole lives ahead of them to make the world a better place.

To all fathers everywhere, I hope you had a great day. Rock on.