My Father's House

This is the Father's Day post. In addition to the list of Dad Songs, I'm also invited people to add personal songs about, or for, or in memory of their fathers via Facebook. Both parts of the post will remain open to contribution, so feel free to add your own. This post is of course dedicated to my wonderful dad, Jerry.

1. Bruce Springsteen, "My Father's House"

2. Temptations, "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"

3. Madonna, "Oh Father"

4. 2Pac, "Papa'z Song"

5. Johnny Cash, "A Boy Named Sue"

6. Cat Stevens, "Father and Son"

7. Beyonce, "Daddy"

8.  Gladys Knight and the Pips, ”Daddy Could Swear, I Declare” 

9. Elvis, "Don't Cry Daddy"

10. Bo Diddley, "Diddley Daddy"



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Readers' Songs

Kate Smith,"When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain"

Steve Hogan: My Dad really didn't give much of a crap for music. He always professed that this was his favorite song, but mostly so he could joke "I was surprised that Kate Smith could get that moon over the mountain."

Lance Barnett: "Danny Boy always makes me think of my dad."



Lance adds: "My son, Khyber says Learn to fly by the Foo Fighters makes him think of me."



My cousin Ann Drolet wants to remember her father (who was indeed a dear man) thusly:  "I gotta million songs, John, but I'm gonna come from left field... I want Donald O'Connor singing "Make 'Em Laugh," because that is what Harry did, he was an entertainer, he was an artist, he was a "social butterfly." He loved to entertain, he loved to engage, he loved to bring people together... Sort of like you!" (That's not a bad way to be thought of, or remembered, at all. Thanks, Ann.)



Hilary Froehlich: "I have so many songs that remind me of my Dad, but this is one of my first "song memories" with him. I remember listening to this cassette in his pickup truck on Saturday mornings...on the way the Summit dump. He would play air drums on the steering wheel and clap. 1980's John Mellencamp always brings me back to those days and gives me goosebumps every time, this song was one of my favorites. Love John Cougar and love my Dad! (Little Pink Houses is an obvious second, how could that NOT be appealing to a little girl?!)"

Celia Kelly Bredenbeck: "My dad was gone from us when I was 16. I have missed him for 37 years. You don't miss someone like it was yesterday for 37 years unless they were someone special, and that he was. If you still have your father, treasure the moments."

Celia: "He didn't have a penny to leave in material wealth, but what he left me I wouldn't trade for worlds: memories and character, and a solid sense of right and wrong, and the deep, ingrained knowledge that kindness is all that matters. You can't buy those."

and she adds

Brian Middleton shares Billy Bragg's "Tank Park Salute", about which he says: "Not a song that I can relate to directly yet (thankfully), but surely this is one of the great songs ever written to a father."



And here is a special treat: Brian's dad plays the trumpet solo on this Stan Kenton version of "The Thrill Is Gone". (the link isavailable Sunday only)

Will green shares "Hard to Be Humble", adding "I know I'm late for the blog- but this is the song and important lesson my dad taught me as a boy. And yes, I'm serious about the song (neither of us are serious about the content - or are we?"