Dad, hey, Dad! Father's Day is almost here again, so it's time to celebrate the father figures that have helped shape us into the people we are today. Dads, grandpas, brothers, uncles, cousins, friends, mentors, teachers, coaches, moms, what have you - thank you for what you do, because each one of us has a father figure that helped get us to this point in our lives.
Below is the 2023 Audio Aesthetics Father's Day Playlist - the full master playlist can be found on Apple Music by following @audioaesthetics.
My Father's Eyes by Eric Clapton (written by E. Clapton)
Featured on Clapton's 1998 album Pilgrim, this song has a very laid back vibe musically that's laid over some heart wrenching lyrics. Inspired by both the death of his father in 1985 (that he never got the chance to meet) and the sudden and tragic accidental death of his son in 1991, the song is an introspective look into a man trying his best to make it in this world and looking for help to know how to do so.
Sailing down behind the sun/Waiting for my prince to come/Praying for the healing rain/To restore my soul again/Just a toe rag on the run/How did I get here, what have I done/When will all my hopes arise/How will I know him/When I look in my father's eyes/My father's eyes/When I look in my father's eyes/My father's eyes
I Wish You Love by Frank Sinatra ft. Count Basie (written by C. Trenet, L. Chauliac, A. Beach)
Featured on Sinatra & Basie's 1964 album It Might As Well Be Swing, this jazz standard is one often used as a father-daughter dance at weddings. While the opening lyrics definitely don't do the song any favors in that particular vein, the chorus starts to talk about all the good things the narrator wishes for their loved one and it starts to work again.
Goodbye, no use leading with our chins/This is where our story ends, never lovers, ever friends/Goodbye, let our hearts call it a day/But before you walk away, I sincerely want to say/I wish you bluebirds in the spring, to give your heart a song to sing/And then a kiss, but more than this, I wish you love/And in July, lemonade to cool you in some leafy glade/I wish you health, and more than wealth, I wish you love/My breaking heart and I agree that you and I could never be/So with my best, my very best, I set you free/I wish you shelter from the storm, a cozy fire to keep you warm/Most of all, when snowflakes fall, I wish you love
Your Heart Will Lead You Home by Kenny Loggins (written by K. Loggins, R. Sherman, R. Sherman)
Featured on Loggins's 2000 album More Songs from Pooh Corner and the soundtrack for the 2000 Disney film The Tigger Movie (starring Jim Cummings & Nikita Hopkins), this song and the rest of its album helped put me to sleep for over half of my childhood. The Tigger Movie is all about family, specifically the family you choose, but even beyond that the lyrics to this song are fully of advice you can easily see a parent giving to their child.
Sunny days and starry nights and lazy afternoons/You're counting castles in the clouds and humming little tunes/But somehow right before your eyes, the summer fades away/Everything is different and everything has changed/If you feel lost and on your own and far from home/You're never alone, you know/Just think of your friends, the ones who care/They all will be waiting there with love to share/And your heart will lead you home
Most Beautiful/So in Love by Maverick City Music ft. Chandler Moore (written by T. Brown, C. Moore, B. Lake, N. Moore, L. Sloan, D. Bowe, J. Jay, O. Walthour)
Featured on Maverick City's 2019 live album Maverick City Vol. 2, this song with beautiful vocals by worship leader Chandler Moore speaks of a Father who is our closest friend and our desire as His children to dwell with Him in His home forever. Taking inspiration from Psalm 27:4, this song can get repetitive over its twelve minute run time, but it's a great song to sit and meditate on our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
One thing I desire, only this I seek/Just to dwell, dwell, dwell here forever/This will be my posture, laying at Your feet/Oh just to dwell, dwell, dwell here forever/Dearest Father, closest Friend/Most beautiful, most beautiful/You are dearest Father, closest Friend/Most beautiful, most beautiful
Tomboy by Miranda Lambert (written by M. Lambert, N. Hemby, A. Raitiere)
Featured on Lambert's 2016 album The Weight of These Wings, this song doesn't exactly focus on a dad but he does get a direct shoutout in Verse 1. I choose to think this particular dad didn't get bummed out over having a daughter who's a tomboy, but when he realized she wasn't into stereotypically über-feminine stuff he just rolled with it and supported her interests.
Tomboy, Hail Mary/Never needs a dress to make her pretty/She's a killjoy, such a let down/Daddy tried to raise a southern belle/Well, he got a tomboy/Tomboy, in between/Dirt in her nails and holes in her jeans/She'll destroy all your dreams/And ride out like a rodeo queen, know what I mean/She's a tomboy/Tangled hair and bruises on her knees/She wears her scars outside her sleeves/Always has a way of saying, "No way"/Some people don't get her but that's okay/Move along, boy/She's a tomboy
Where I'm Standing Now by Phil Wickham ft. Brandon Lake (written by B. Lake, B. Johnson, P. Wickham)
Featured on Wickham's 2021 album Hymn of Heaven, this worship song shows a picture of a God who demonstrates how to be the perfect Father. Jesus dying for us on the cross and rising again on Easter allows us the opportunity to be adopted children of God the Father, and what a loving, caring, merciful Father He is.
Out of the wilderness into Your deliverance/Look where I'm standing now/These hands that once were chained now lifted high in praise/Look where I'm standing now/Look where I'm standing now/I stand on the chain-breaking, miracle-making/Powerful name of Jesus/On the body-raising, prodigal-saving/Powerful name of Jesus
To Life by Zero Mostel, Michael Granger, & Fiddler on the Roof Original Broadway Cast (written by J. Bock, S. Harnick)
Featured in Act 1 of the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof, this song shows ultimate trying-his-best Jewish dad Tevye thinking he's the ultimate dad by securing a marriage agreement for his eldest daughter to the wealthiest man in town. Of course, very soon after this we find out how incredibly wrong he was, but one of my favorite things about Tevye is that any time his plans are ripped out from underneath him, he trusts God that His will will be done, and he and his family (who he loves so deeply) are always cared for.
God would like us to be joyful even when our hearts lie panting on the floor/How much more can we be joyful when there's really something to be joyful for/To life, to life, l'chaim/To Tzeitel, my daughter/My wife/It gives you something to think about/Something to drink about/Drink, l'chaim, to life
Happy Dad's Day, Dads and Dad Figures! Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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