20 Awesome Father Daughter Country Songs
There are few things that can really get the tears flowing like a good country song. After all, there is just something about those lyrics that reach in, grab your emotions, and bring them right to the surface.
You might think that listening to some country songs about fathers and daughters would be an exercise in sweetness, and it is. It’s also something that will have you grabbing for the tissues, especially if your own daughter has recently left home or is simply growing up too fast. Still not convinced?
Here are 20 country songs about fathers and daughters. Listen if you dare, but keep those tissues handy.
20. Daddy Dance With Me (Krystal Keith)
Who doesn’t love the idea of having their father dance with them at their wedding, or any other time, for that matter? For those daughters who consider themselves closer to their fathers than their mothers, this is like a dream come true.
It’s also a little on the bittersweet side, largely because it usually marks an important milestone. More often than not, it’s all about growing older and in some ways, growing apart from their fathers as they come into their own.
That is precisely what these lyrics tend to remind a lot of people of when they listen to the song.
19. God Gave Me You (Blake Shelton)
You might think that the title of this song implies something romantic. In this particular case, it is about a father talking to his daughter. In the song, he’s talking about how much it means to him that she is in fact his daughter and that he’s had the opportunity to spend so much of her life with the two of them being close.
He goes on to say that even during the more difficult times, he’s always been grateful to have her and he wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world.
18. Daddy’s Hands (Holly Dunn)
This is a song that will really tug at the heartstrings, mainly because she talks about how her father was always able to fix everything, often with his hands. This wasn’t only something he did for a living, but it also involves fixing broken toys, helping her learn to tie her shoes and yes, fixing broken hearts.
The song takes a bit of a sad turn as time advances and she begins to talk about how her father’s hands now shake as a direct result of advanced age. Eventually, he passes away and she’s left with only the memory of the way he used to hold her hand and cradle her whenever she felt scared.
17. I Loved Her First (Heartland)
This is a song where the father is talking to a boyfriend or fiance, telling him that he loved his daughter before any other man. It’s a song that every father can relate to because it talks about how he was always the first to be there to address both the happy times and the sad times.
The lyrics go on to say how the father loves his daughter more than any other man ever could. Moreover, he’s telling this prospective significant other that if he does her wrong, he will have to then explain to her dad why he chose the path that he did.
16. My Little Girl (Tim McGraw)
This is a song told from the perspective of a father, talking about his daughter. In the lyrics, she’s getting older, growing up and wanting to spend less and less time with her father.
Obviously, this is something that can be difficult to accept, especially for those fathers and daughters that are very close. The lyrics go on to talk about how he will always love his little girl, no matter what happens between them.
As far as he’s concerned, things like time and distance simply don’t matter because nothing will ever change the fact that this is his daughter and he loves her unconditionally.
15. It Won’t Be Like This for Long (Darius Rucker)
This is a song that couldn’t be more true. It’s told from the perspective of a father talking about a young daughter. He’s reflecting on all of the things that he loves to do with her and how she sees every moment of her day as a wonder, full of curiosity and love.
The lyrics then go on to talk about how it won’t remain this way for very long because children tend to grow up very quickly. Before the days come where she thinks she knows more than her parents or she wants to have as little to do with him as possible, he wants to enjoy these days where they’re close and everything seems perfect.
14. Stealing Cinderella (Chuck Wicks)
Everyone knows the story of Cinderella. This song talks about a father’s Cinderella and how some other boy came along and essentially stole her away from him.
Obviously, that isn’t what actually happened but you would be hard-pressed to find any father that doesn’t feel like that is precisely what has happened when his daughter meets someone and decides to get married.
One of the things that can make love complicated is the fact that letting go is exceedingly difficult, yet when you truly love someone, that is exactly what you will do. If it’s in their best interest, you let go even when you don’t want to. This song definitely speaks to that.
13. Wide Open Spaces (The Dixie Chicks)
This tune is told from a slightly different perspective, this time from the daughter’s point of view. The daughter is talking about the relationship between a father and daughter and how she eventually grew older, started spending less time with her father and wanted the freedom that almost every young adult wants.
Eventually, she figures out that all of that freedom isn’t typically what it’s cracked up to be. In fact, she discovers that she prefers to be right back in her father’s arms just like she was when she was younger.
12. Today I Give My Daughter Away (Dale Watson & His Lone Stars)
This song can be tough to hear because it talks about walking one’s daughter down the aisle and giving her away to someone else. She’s about to start an entirely new life with another person and the father will go back home to a house that once held her laughter which is now a little bit quieter. This is a happy time, but it’s often also a bit on the melancholy side for all parties involved.
11. Just Fishin’ (Trace Atkins)
In this song, the father starts out taking his daughter fishing at a very young age. At first, she’s frightened but eventually, she comes to love everything about it.
She can’t wait to go on their fishing trips. As time passes, she wants to go on these trips less and less frequently. Instead, she starts hanging out with friends and yes, boys.
Eventually, she spends almost all of her time doing other things besides going fishing. At the end of the song, the father is asking for just one more fishing trip with her before everything changes forever.
10. I’ll Be Your Man (Zac Brown Band)
Here you have a song about a father who is there to pick up the pieces when everything seems to go wrong for his daughter. She thinks that she’s found the man of her dreams but she ends up getting her heart broken.
Her father comes along and starts trying to put those pieces back together so that she can be whole once again. Every father who has ever comforted his daughter when she was heartbroken knows how this feels.
9. Daddy’s Little Girl (The Shires)
This particular song is told from the daughter’s perspective, talking about how much she loves her father. The lyrics to the song admit that their relationship hasn’t always been perfect.
In fact, it’s had more than it’s fair share of ups and downs, just like most relationships. In the end, she admits that she will always be her dad’s little girl and she knows the he’ll always be there for her, no matter what else happens in life.
8. You Are My Sunshine (Johnny Cash)
Most people are familiar with this song in one capacity or another, as it has been recorded by countless numbers of individuals over the years.
That being said, it’s not really all that often that it ends up being recorded by a countryl legend such as Johnny Cash, nor is it always talking about the relationship between a father and a daughter. In this case, the father is speaking directly to his daughter, saying that she is his entire world and he doesn’t know what he would do without her.
7. I’ll Be There (Josh Turner)
This song has the father telling his daughter that no matter what happens in life, he will always be there for her. They may have their disagreements and at times, and it may even seem like they’re growing apart. However, there is nothing that could ever happen that would destroy the relationship between the two of them and he’ll never let her down when she needs him most.
6. Butterfly Fly Away (Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus)
Not only is this a song about a father and a daughter, but it’s one that was actually recorded by a real life father and daughter duo. It’s a little bit on the sad side because it’s talking about how a little girl eventually grows up and gets her wings, hence the butterfly.
The song also talks about how as she grows, she is spreading those wings. In doing so, she’s naturally moving away from being with her father as much. It’s a natural progression but that doesn’t mean that it’s always easy for the father or the child.
5. There Goes My Life (Kenny Chesney)
This song’s title pretty much sums it up. As the father watches his daughter leave the house, he says that his entire life is walking out the door. Any parent can identify with this feeling.
It doesn’t matter if your child is old enough to go to college or if they’re simply going away for a sleepover, there’s a certain amount of anxiety that’s felt every time you see them walk out the door.
4. Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
Here you have a song that talks about a little girl who used to love special kisses called butterfly kisses. It’s a very sad song because it’s one that’s about loss. It will definitely have you reaching for the tissues but it’s also one of the more prolific country songs about fathers and daughters.
3. You’re Gonna Miss This (Trace Atkins)
In this song, the storyteller is talking to someone else about what it’s like to be a father. He’s telling them how much they’re going to miss all the little things that they feel slightly annoyed by at the time.
He’s trying to tell them that as time passes and their daughter grows older, they’ll wish they had these days back. Therefore, they should enjoy them while they have the chance.
2. My Wish (Rascal Flatts)
This is a very sweet song that’s talking about how the father just wants all the best things for his daughter throughout her life. He knows there will be struggles and that things won’t always be easy, but he wants her to have the best life possible so he’s encouraging her to find the motivation and inspiration to keep going, even during the more difficult times. It’s like a letter where a father gets to say all the things that he hopes for his daughter and it’s done beautifully.
1. I Hope You Dance (Lee Ann Womack)
Finally, you have a song that talks about truly grasping every second that life has to offer. You could consider it a story about a father talking to his daughter and telling her to never take anything for granted. Life can be difficult and sometimes struggles and fears get in the way of things. This is a beautiful song that reminds the listener not to let those things dictate their life.
You can also read:
- 20 Awesome Songs about Riding
- 20 Awesome Country Songs about America
- 20 Awesome Country Break Up Songs
- 20 Awesome Songs About Books
- Songs that Glorify Fathers: 5 Distinct Takes
