Best Classic Country Songs About Dad

June 17, 2007

In honor of Father’s Day, I thought I’d put together a quick list of some of my favorite “Dad” songs. Some are sweet, some are funny, some are downright mean. Some have nothing to do with dads except for the title, others talk about dad in the lyrics. I’m sure there are 100s of others I didn’t think of. Feel free to add your own!


Daddy’s Hands by Holly Dunn

This is a sweet dad song that Holly Dunn wrote about her own father, and it was a huge it for her. She won the CMA’s Best New Artist award in 1987, the year this song was released.

You’ve Got to Stand for Something (or You’ll Fall for Anything) by Aaron Tippin

“Dad” isn’t in the title, but this song is all about his dad and how he was always doing the right thing no matter the consequences. “Whatever you do today you’ll have to sleep with tonight”

The Dirt Road by Sawyer Brown

This song doesn’t have the word “dad” in the title either, but it is about his dad taking “the dirt road” his whole life. He doesn’t take the easy way out, and it takes longer, but that’s where his father has found life and it has taken him to the places he wants to be.

Daddy Sang Bass by Johnny Cash

This is one of my favorite Johnny Cash songs. It’s about a family who sings together. It also features June Carter Cash and the Statler Brothers

Daddy Frank by Merle Haggard

I loved this song when I was a kid because I could just imagine the Mama character reading lips and singing with the family band. I always thought that Daddy Frank was probably a pretty good picker though.

Mama’s in the Graveyard (Papa’s in the Pen) by Garth Brooks

Well, at least it mentions Papa in the title. Unfortunately, Papa is best remembered for running his semi truck through the walls of a motel room in order to kill Mama and her lover. “He never hit the breaks, and he was shiftin’ gears.” Classic.

Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line by Waylon Jennings

Never pass up the chance to hear Waylon put a woman in her place. So what if he isn’t her father, this is a great “Daddy” song.

Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash

This is my favorite dad song, mostly because it was my favorite song my dad would sing to me as a kid. Live your whole life mad at your dad, set off on a quest to kill him, bust a chair across his teeth, and fight him on a muddy street only to end up calling him “Pa”. This is a great country song!

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