10 Songs About Father-Son Relationships

Once you become a father, your entire life changes for the better. These songs about father-son relationships capture that special feeling of being a parent. Many of these songs have touching lyrics and talk about watching a son grow up. You can see these songs in a playlist or just listen to your favorites on the list.

1. Letter to Me by Brad Paisley

Released in 2007, this was a part of the album, 5th Gear. It is not directly from father to son. It is actually a message that a grown man would turn around and write to his younger self at the age of 17. As we grow older, we learn things that could have made our life easier. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self an important life message, this is probably what it would sound like.
Best Lyrics:
“And oh, you got so much going for you
Going right
But I know at seventeen
It’s hard to see past Friday night
She wasn’t right for you.”

2. Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin

This song is extremely famous, but most people probably don’t realize that it is one of the best songs about father-son relationships. This song is actually rather depressing in a sense. As a child, he had no time for his father. Then, he becomes a father and finds that his son ends up having no time for him as well. While the lyrics might be a bit depressing at times, the tune is extremely catchy. It was originally released in 1974, but still remains a fairly popular song.
Best Lyrics:
“And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
When you coming home, dad?
I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

3. Father and Son by Cat Stevens

This is another song that was released a long time ago, but has remained popular. Originally released in 1970, this song is a message from a father to son. He is trying to tell his son not to worry. There are trials and challenges in life, but these trials do not have to define the son. You can get over all of the struggles of life and still be happy. Just keep your inner peace and continue the journey of life.
Best Lyrics:
“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.”

4. He Didn’t Have to Be by Brad Paisley

Released in 1999, this is one of the more touching songs about father-son relationships. The song is a tribute to all of the step-dads out there who take on the role of a father. They become the example that their child tries to live up to. No matter what, the step-dad is there to help out and to make life better for everyone else. Performed by Brad Paisley, this song was a part of the album, Who Needs Pictures.
Best Lyrics:
“And then all of a sudden ah it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something’s missing to a family
Lookin’ back all I can say about all the things he did for me
Is I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be.”

5. Dear Father by Neil Diamond

This is a song about the dreams, glory and pain of life. It has straightforward lyrics, but a dramatic, emotional feel to it. It is an orchestral song that can be interpreted in many different ways. If your dad is a man of few words, then this would probably be a good song to dedicate to him. It was released on the album Jonathon Livingstone Seagull in 1973.
Best Lyrics:
“Dear Father
We dream
We dream
We dream
While we may.”

6. A Song for Dad by Keith Urban

This is another song that would be great to dedicate to your father. It is about a son reflecting on how he is rapidly turning into a man more like his father was. The song talks about the respect and sudden understanding that he gains of his father as he gets older. This song was originally released in 2002 as a part of the album, Golden Road.
Best Lyrics:
“The older I get
The more I can see
How much he loved my mother and my brother and me
And he did the best that he could
And I only hope when I have my own family
That everyday I see
A little more of my father in me.”

7. My Father’s House by Bruce Springsteen

This is an extremely touching song for fathers and sons. The song is all about the journey that everyone has to take in life. It is about holding onto the past and letting go of things that could never happen. In this particular song, it also talks about how it can sometimes be too late to resolve a relationship between a father and son after too much time has passed. The song was originally released in 1982 on the album, Nebraska.
Best Lyrics:
“My father’s house shines hard and bright
It stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling so cold and alone
Shining ‘cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned.”

8. Father to Son by Phil Collins

Released in 1989, this song was from the album But Seriously. This beautiful song is about losing a father too early in life. The father tries to convey all of his important messages about life to his son before it is too late and he passes on. If you wanted songs about father-son relationships that leave you in tears, this would be the right choice.
Best Lyrics:
“A word in your ear, from father to son
Hear the word that I say
I fought with you, fought on your side
Long before you were born.”

9. Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross

This song is another touching, tragic song about fathers and sons. It is all about wishing that the protagonist could have another chance to watch his mother and father dance. It is all about life after the father has passed on. Vandross sings about how his father would always laugh and comfort him as a child. If he could only have another chance, he just wishes that he and his mother could dance with his father again.
Best Lyrics:
“If I could get another chance
Another walk
Another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never ever end
How I’d love love love
To dance with my father again.”

10. Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney

This is another heartfelt song about losing a father too soon. It isn’t exactly about the death of a father or son. Instead, it asks the question about who someone would have become if they were still there today.. If you are trying to honor your dad or a son who passed on, this would be an excellent song to dedicate to his memory.
Best Lyrics:
“It ain’t fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
But death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you
All the hell that I’ve been through
Just knowing no one could take your place
Sometimes I wonder who you’d be today.”