On Father’s Day, a reminder: the best rock songs about fathers are written in good times and bad. At its core, this is the figure who provided guidance as we tried to navigate the often confusing real world.
From 88.9, and in the Day Father’s Day, we share the 10 best Father’s Day rock classics that, for better or worse, were inspired by a father.
Harry Chapin – Cat’s in the Cradle
“Cat’s in the Cradle” is a song about the life lessons we often learn too late. The tune is based in part on a poem that was written by Harry Chapin’s wife to “punish” him for not being home at the time her son Josh was born. It is a reminder to remember the importance of family over career.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Teach Your Children
Graham Nash wrote this tune, with a pedal steel guitar contribution from Jerry Garcia, about the troubled relationship he had with his father, putting an interesting twist on the lyrics. Nash notes that it started out as a folk song when he was in the Hollies before Stephen Stills gave it a more country feel, and ended up on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s album “Deja Vu.”
Alice In Chains – Rooster
The song’s title comes from the nickname given to Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell’s father during the Vietnam War. Overall, it’s a dark memory that Cantrell says was a “healing” experience for both him and his father, who described his time in Vietnam as “strange” and “sad.”
Jane’s Addiction – Had a Dad
Jane’s Addiction bassist Eric Avery co-wrote this Jane classic with frontman Perry Farrell. The singer helped lyrically illustrate the feelings that arose when Avery discovered that his father was not his biological father.
Pearl Jam – Alive
In “Alive,” Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder tells the story of a son who discovers that his stepfather is not his real father and that his real father has died. Vedder later revealed that the song was autobiographical, based on aftershocks caused by the tension in his relationship with his stepfather.
Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
This song’s image of a “bridge” fit wonderfully with the gentle hand of a father, guiding his young offspring through the first steps of life. The Simon & Garfunkel melody suggests that support will be constant and that any worries can be resolved knowing that any obstacle can be faced together.
U2 – Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Bono wrote this as a kind of letter to his father. It details the push/pull relationship that exists between a parent and his or her children, while taking stock of the characteristics that are passed from parent to child. Ultimately, we are reminded of the importance of the relationship that exists between the two.
Bruce Springsteen – My Father’s House
A distant relationship with his father inspired Bruce Springsteen to write this song. His father was not enthralled by his son’s musical inclinations and talked about “that damn guitar” to Springsteen, a moment that was later immortalized as a story on Bruce’s stage in the middle of “Growin’ Up.”
Eric Clapton – My Father’s Eyes
Eric Clapton regrets his lack of relationship with his father, whom he never met. Having a child of his own for the first time, Clapton realized that he could see sparks of the traits his father had passed on to him in the eyes of his new son.
Paul Simon – Father and Daughter
Every wedding DJ should have a copy of this on hand for the all-important father/daughter dance. Dedicated to “daddy’s little girl,” Paul Simon remembers the days “when we counted every shooting star” and uses his fatherly instincts to advise his favorite little girl to “trust her intuition” as she moves through the world. .
