I hate to say it, but when's the last time you've heard a positive Dad song? There's a lot of ballads about absent fathers, but not nearly as many celebrating the joys of fatherhood. So we compiled the cutest Father's Day gift: the perfect playlist for a mixtape for Dad! Yes, we know you've already bought Dad an engraved watch, but a playlist expresses love that can only be understood through song. We all need a soundtrack for our life, so maybe we can at least have one for Father's Day.
1. "Father to Son" - Queen
2. "Glory" - Jay Z
"Baby I'll paint the sky blue. My greatest creation was you." Jay was inspired to craft this song after the birth of his daughter, Blue Ivy.
3. "I Learned From You" - Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus
"I learned from you that I do not crumble. I learned that strength is something you choose. All of the reasons to keep on believin'. There's no question, that's a lesson, that I learned from you." This gorgeous father-daughter duet reflects upon the life lessons Billy Ray taught Miley. Can't imagine Miley admitting loving her father in 2016, but the song is adorable.
4. "Dance with My Father" - Luther Vandross
This R&B melody won Grammy Song of the Year for a reason. Its sentimental lyrics resonate with everyone who has a loving relationship with their father: "To get my way, I would run from her to him. He’d make me laugh just to comfort me. Then finally make me do just what my mama said." Yeah, my Mom ruled the house too.
5. "Daddy" - Beyonce
What Dad wouldn't appreciate a Queen B song on his Father's Day mixture? The lyrics "I want my unborn son to be like my daddy. I want my husband to be like my daddy. There is no one else like my daddy. And I thank you for loving me" are bound to bring a tear to even the toughest-looking Dad.
6. "Song for Dad" - Keith Urban
The anthem for anyone who has an emotionally closed-off Father. Just remember, he loves you more than you think: "There were times I thought he was bein' just a little bit hard on me. But now I understand he was makin' me become the man he knew that I could be."
7. "Isn't She Lovely?" - Stevie Wonder
Embarrassing confession, but for years, I never truly listened to the lyrics of this iconic song, so I just assumed it was about romantic love (yeah, I never caught onto "only one minute old"). But now that I know the true origin of the song -- that Stevie Wonder wrote it after seeing his newborn daughter for the first time -- the song is just so much sentimental. "Isn't she pretty? Truly the angel's best." Sweeter words were never said.
8. "Daddy's Little Girl" - Karla Bonoff
This song is just so sad, but too loving not to be put on the list: "He was the calm in the storm. Daddy kept us warm. What will I do when he's gone. How will I carry on." Show Daddy you love him before he's gone.
9. "Father and Daughter" - Paul Simon
Though technically a ballad written by the famous Paul Simon (of Simon and Garfunkel fame) to his daughter, the lyrics reflect the loving feelings of all Dads: "There could never be a father who loved his daughter more than I love you."
10. "Song for My Father" - Horace Silver
If there's such a thing as a Father's Day cliche song, this is it. The beauty of Horace Silver's classic is unparalleled...it's just too pure: "If there was ever a man who was generous, gracious and good / That was my dad."
11. "My Old Man" - Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker gives the world a glimpse of his father's life through descriptive lyrics like: "He carried a tattered bag for his violin. Full of lots of songs of the places he had been. He talked real easy and he smiled and waved."
12. "I Love My Dad!" - Sun Kil Moon
"I Love My Dad!" is another Father's Day classic that touches upon the singer's fond memories of his childhood. "I ain't trying to say my dad was some kind of a perfect saint...[But] my life is pretty good. I owe it to him, my dad did the best he could." Very true.
13. "Color Him Father" - The Winstons
Here's a tribute to the admirable step-dad in your life. He deserves to celebrate Father's Day too. "There's a man at my house he's so big and strong. He goes to work each day, stays all day long. He comes home each night looking tired and beat."
14. "My Old Man" - Ian Dury & The Blockheads
Another memoir of a working class Father...but this time with a British twist: "Died before we'd done much talking. But realtions had begun. All the while we though about each other"
15. "Dance Like Yo Daddy" - Meghan Trainor
I actually first learned how to Waltz from my Dad, so this song especially resonates me. Thank you, Daddy. "My daddy told me how to do my own thing / He said to let it out, long as you find your groove / Go ahead and find your groove / Make sure you stand out in the crowd and show them all what you can do."
16. "My Dad" - Paul Peterson
So heartfelt and genuine. "He isn't much in the eyes of the world, he'll never make history. He isn't much in the eyes of the world, but he is the world to me." Who else wants to give their Dad a GIANT hug after listening to this?
17. "Like Father Like Son" - Birdman ft. Lil Wayne
Okay, a song wildly inappropriate for work or young children, but if your Dad's a rap fan, he'll love this Weezy classic. The lyrics may be risque, but the underlying message is solid: "There ain't no looooooove / Like Father, Like Son."
18. "Oh! My Papa" - Eddie Fisher
A short, sweet, and sad ballad from the 1950s. So loving. "Gone are the days when he would take me on his knee, and with a smile, he'd change my tears to laughter."
19. "They Don't Make Em Like My Daddy Anymore" - Loretta Lynn
We all know Loretta Lynn was the daughter of a coal miner, but we don't know much about her Dad's persona. This song portrays him as a solid man with working class values, something we can all likely relate to: "My daddy wasn't one that tried to make no big impressions. Just one heck of a man that worked for what he got."
20. "Things My Father Said" - Black Stone Cherry
"I hope you always know the car that we built will always roll." Your Father's legacy is immortal.
Is your favorite Father's Day tune on this list? Comment below!
For more sentimental Father's Day treats, check out Father and Son Matching Outfits, Family Movies for Your Type of Dad, and Most Insightful Advice from Movie Dads.
