Father's Day Songs
A Reason To Smile
The birth of a child is one of the true miracles of nature. Suddenly, a new person exists in our world. They will need care, nurturing, and love. Hopefully they will get all in abundance. Sadly, some will not. What joys and pains will life hold in store? What surprises? Where will their journey take them?
Technically, becoming a father is an act of biology. But to live up to the full meaning and expectation of the word takes so much more. It should be a lifetime commitment. And the most important job title you will ever have.
On Father’s Day, it is important to remember that not every relationship between father and child is a source of happiness. We see all of you who feel this way. As fathers ourselves, we also know the many times and ways we have been imperfect. One of the secrets of parenthood is that you have to grow up along with your children. And that means making mistakes. Hopefully it is a path to progress and deepening relationships.
But at its best, being a father is to be a source of unconditional love forged through a lifetime of memories. We are featuring a pair of songs that help us capture the full meaning of this day. They are both reasons to smile.
We start with perhaps the best song ever written about the birth of a child — Stevie Wonder’s hit “Isn’t She Lovely.” It was written for his daughter Aisha. The original studio recording starts with the sound of a baby crying and has audio of Wonder giving Aisha a bath as a toddler. (You can hear that version here, with the bath beginning about 3:53).
Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
We love this performance at Chicago’s Hyde Park in front of throngs of people singing along. What a celebration of life.
We must also recognize that fathers come in many forms. Country superstar Brad Paisley’s first number one hit was “He Didn’t Have To Be.” It’s a collaboration with his longtime co-writer Kelley Lovelace about Lovelace’s relationship with his stepson. It’s not surprising the song resonated with millions, because it speaks to the ultimate meaning of fatherhood.
Happy Father’s Day to all of you in the Steady community. Thank you for your continuing support.
And happy Fathers Day to you Dan & Elliot! Thank you for being kinda like good dads to all of us through these crazy times. The wisdom, perspective, humor, support, and "we are all in it together" feeling that goes with having a father. You are many other things too, but today, count yourselves among the great dads of the world.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote that, "Women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation."
My four grandchildren are fortunate to have dads who are highly engaged in parenting. My daughter and daughter-in-law have husbands who are allies in all aspects of their married lives. My best wishes for a blessed Fathers' Day to all the men parenting their own children and those in need.