Father’s Day is in the rear view mirror; my Sunday was nearly perfect. I spent extended time with my son who lives in Indianapolis, clearing a tree that demolished a corner of my mom’s roof. Hard labor for sure, but I was able to work alongside a huge part of my little universe. I wish I could see him more often.
During the lead up to Father’s Day, I spent some alone time in my shop listening to country music and heard plenty of songs dedicated to dads.
Like many of you, I lost my dad and it changed my world. I didn’t have a great relationship with him but we didn’t have a bad relationship by any means. I wish he and I had more time to work on it. I often say that our relationship was constantly improving. We would have evolved into good friends had it not been for one horrible day. He suffered a massive stroke and it stole the happy ending to our story.
Those Dad-dedicated songs on the radio were heart-warming for the most part. There were, however, a few that brought me to tears.
Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” is a fantastic song that, for me, is a great reminder of how I want to live my life. The line that says “And all of a sudden going fishin’ wasn’t such an imposition and I went three times that year I lost my dad” brings me to tears each and every time I hear it. Ugh. From time to time I play that song back-to-back and tear up twice. It’s good therapy sometimes.
Luke Combs’ “Even Though I’m Leaving” is another wonderful song that tugs at my heartstrings. The song follows a father and son through three points in the son’s life. First, when he’s scared that monsters will get him in the middle of the night. Second, as he’s saying goodbye before being deployed. Lastly, as he’s saying his final goodbye to his father — “Daddy, please don’t go, I can’t do this on my own.” Double ugh.
The next lines from the father turn me to mush. “Just ‘cause I’m leavin’ it don’t mean that I won’t be right by your side” and “I won’t be here, but I’ll always be right there. Even though I’m leavin’, I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
Every. Single. Time.
I greatly prefer to hear those songs when I’m alone. I always take a quiet moment to process not just the loss of my father, but how my children would be affected by losing me. Father Time will come for all of us eventually.
If you haven’t heard either of those songs, give them a listen. I hope they are as meaningful to you as they are to me.
To the songwriters and performers who have brought these and other similar songs of remembrance, I have two messages.
First, thank you for these gifts. I love thinking about my dad and the great moments we shared. I’m also grateful for the reminder to be someone my kids will tell meaningful stories about some day. I aspire to leave a lasting legacy with them.
Second, please stop! I seriously can’t take it any more. These lyrics are day-wreckers. A good day turns sad, a bad day become depressing in a hurry. I’m begging all country songwriters to stick to your roots and only write songs about your truck breaking down, drinking beer and your dog leaving.
Finally, this being the first time I’ve actually read and re-written those lyrics, can you please work on your grammar? It is atrocious.
dougb@news-banner.com
