Father's Day Songs

I've written a letter to Daddy
His address is Heaven Above
I've written dear Daddy we miss you
And wish you were with us to love!
Instead of a stamp I've put kisses
The postman said that's best to do
I've written a letter to Daddy
Saying I...love...YOU!

Now when I'm very good, and do as I am told
I'm mama's little angel and daddy says I'm good as gold
And when I'm naughty and answer back and sass
I'm mama's little devil, and daddy says I've got the brass.

Oh I wish that you could tell me,
Cos I'm much too young to know......

Betty Davis did a great job with that in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.

Betty Davis is one of my favorites.

Cats in the Cradle
Harry Chapin

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I'm trying to think of the song that Shirley Temple did in a movie, dancing onstage with her daddy...
That's kinda sad, cav. Thought we were looking for happy daddy songs to sing on Father's Day. Not "Poppa Was a Rolling Stone". But there aren't that many out there, huh?
Oh! "Papa Don't Take No Mess."

Hey, eoe.

Everybody's askin' me,
Who's that great big personality,
I'm presenting him right now,
Daddy, take a bow.

Everybody wants to know,
Who's that great big handsome romeo,
I'm presenting him right now,
Daddy take a bow.

That's all that I can remember!

I wrote and recorded this one for my Dad on Father's Day:

There he is just sittin'
In his easy chair,
Readin', droppin' ashes on the floor.
Even in his coveralls, he looks so debonair.
Makes me glad, that he's my dad.

Supper's on the table,
Everything is hot,
That's his cue to go out for a stroll.
Chances are you'll find him,
In some wooded spot,
Just thinkin' while the dinner's gettin' cold.

(Bridge)
He can talk on any subject,
And does most of the time,
There isn't anything he doesn't know.
And yet he listens gravely
To these petty peeves of mine,
And cheers me up when I am feeling low.

There he goes in hip boots,
Fish again tonight.
That shirt he's wearing
Is his Sunday best.

I love to sit and watch him
As he goes on out of sight,
Think of all the things he says
To make my heart feel light.
And though his hair's unruly,
And his jokes are sometimes bad,
I'm so happy he's my dad.

Very nice, Letty.

Thanks, tweetie

Junior Bear
"My Pa" by Junior Bear Age 7 and a half

My Pa

When the nasty old boogie man fills me with fears
And my little old pinafore is all wet with tears
And my cute little pug nose is all red from cryin'
Who is it that saves me and keeps me from dyin'?
My Pa!
When my little pink cheeks are pale with fright
Who is it that lifts me and holds me tight
And says "There, there, little man, everything is all right"
My Pa!
Oh, who's your best friend it's father
'Cause father is a best friend
And who's your best friend, to the very end
Nobody else but Pa
He is the only friend bestest
Nor south and east and westest
Who is your best friend father
'Cause father is all right
Morning, noon, and night
Pa! Pa! Pa!

Who do we love these skies above is
Father, father
Who's the bravest of the brave
Father, father
Who's the one who fills our lives completely
And ever sweetly will remain

Let's give a cheer for father
Let's make his life a joy
I'll be his loving wifey
And I'll be his darling boy (Duh)
Let's all look up to father
Worship him near and far
He never is a bother
Pa!
Pa!
Pa!!!!

http://www.nonstick.com/wsounds/jrbear6.wav

From "Slip-slidin' Away" by Paul Simon:
...
And I know a father who had a son
He longed to tell him all the reasons for the things he'd done
He came a long way just to explain
He kissed his boy as he lay sleeping
Then he turned around and he headed home again
....

That and "Cat's In The Cradle" always give me a lump in my throat.

Father and Son
Father and Son
Cat Stevens

It's not time to make a change,
Just relax, take it easy.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to know.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy,
To be calm when you've found something going on.
But take your time, think a lot,
Why, think of everything you've got.
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.

Son
How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again.
It's always been the same, same old story.
From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.

Father
It's not time to make a change,
Just sit down, take it slowly.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to go through.
Find a girl, settle down,
if you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

Son
All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside,
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it.
If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them you know not me.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.

Dance With My Father

On a down note :

CCR, Someday Never Comes

Bow Tie Daddy þ Frank Zappa

Bow tie daddy dontcha blow your top
Everything's under control
Bow tie daddy dontcha blow your top
'Cause you think you're gettin' too old
Don't try to do no thinkin'
Just go on with your drinkin'
Just have your fun, you old son of a gun
Then drive home in your Lincoln

OK, let's lighten up a bit...

BOY NAMED SUE

My daddy left home when I was three,
And he didn't leave much to Ma and me...
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid,
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left, he went and named me 'Sue'.

Well, he must o' thought that is was quite a joke,
And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk.
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red,
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head.
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named 'Sue'.

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
My fist got hard and my wits got keen.
I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame.
But I made me a vow to the moon and stars
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars,
And kill that man that give me that awful name.

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
And I just hit town, and my throat was dry.
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew.
At an old saloon on a street of mud,
There at a table, dealing stud,
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me 'Sue'.

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had,
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
He was big and bent and gray and old,
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold,
And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' How do you do! Now you gonna die!"

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes,
And he went down, but, to my surprise,
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear.
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.

I tell ya, I've fought tougher men,
But I really can't remember when,
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.

And he said: "Son, this world is rough,
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough,
And I know I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said good-bye.
I knew you'd have to get tough or die,
And it's that name that helped to make you strong."

He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight,
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do.
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you 'Sue'."

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
And I come away with a different point of view.
And I think about him, now and then,
Every time I try and every time I win,
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but sue! I still hate that name!