Songs for dad
30 songs · Updated 27 September 2026
Dads are often hard to buy for and easy to play music for. Most of them have a handful of songs that mean something, even if they never say which ones.
This list covers songs written about fathers, songs from the kind of record collection a lot of dads have, and a few for slideshows and toasts. Use it for Father's Day, a birthday, or just a message to say you were thinking of him.
Songs about fathers
The ones that say what a lot of us never manage to say to our dads.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
Or have one written about him
None of these songs mentions his terrible jokes, the garage, or the time he drove four hours to pick you up. A song written about him can. Tell TunedForYou a few stories and we will write a song with his name and your memories in it. You hear a preview before you decide.
One we made, to hear what it sounds like
3:05Thanks for Everything, Dad
For Dad From Your Son
"You taught me how to throw a ball Picked me up each time I'd fall Dad, you've always been my guide Standing strong right by my side..."
You tell us about them, we write and sing it, and you hear a preview before you decide.
From dad's record collection
Songs a lot of dads turn up when nobody else is in the car.
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
For a slideshow or a toast
Photos from before you were born, then all the years after.
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
How to choose
Ask what he played when you were small
Most dads have a song from the car or the kitchen that every child in the family remembers. That one will land harder than anything written about fathers in general.
Keep the sad ones for the right room
Songs like Cat's in the Cradle and Dance with My Father are beautiful, but they can bring a birthday party to a halt. Use them in a private message or a quiet moment instead.
Slideshows: pick one song per decade of photos
A four-minute song holds about forty photos at a comfortable pace. For a longer montage, switch songs as the decades change so the music moves with the pictures.
Stepdads and father figures count
He Didn't Have to Be and Watching You are about the men who show up. If that is your dad, say so in the card.
Questions people ask
What is a good song for dad on Father's Day?
My Father's Eyes by Eric Clapton, My Old Man by Zac Brown Band and Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra are good choices: the first two are about fathers, the third is simply a happy song most dads love.
What song should I play at my dad's birthday party?
Pick from the songs he already loves, such as Born to Run, Sweet Home Alabama or Brown Eyed Girl. Keep the reflective songs about fathers for a toast or a video.
What is a good song about a stepdad?
He Didn't Have to Be by Brad Paisley is the best-known song about a stepfather who chose to be there. Watching You by Rodney Atkins also works for any father figure.
What song works for a slideshow of dad's photos?
In My Life by The Beatles, Photograph by Ed Sheeran and What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong all suit old photos. Allow about ten photos per minute of music.
Can I get a song written about my dad?
Yes. TunedForYou writes a personalised song from what you tell us: his name, his habits, your memories together. You hear a preview first and only pay if you want the full song.
More song lists
Looking for a song written just for them? Personalised songs for dad · Father's Day songs · Birthday songs
Or have one written about him
Their name, your stories, the things only the two of you would get. Written and sung for them.
Write a song for my dad