About 250 babies are born every minute in the world. But out of these babies, there are special ones who were born from famous singer-songwriters who dedicate a song to their beloved child. If you’re a new parent, here are the fantastic country songs written by a famous parent to child, to let all of us realize that parents share the same feelings and same sentiments about a child.
- “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan
- May your heart always be joyful
- May your song always be sung
- May you stay forever young
The classic Bob Dylan song “Forever Young” was dedicated to his son Jakob, who also turned out to be a musician. This song has been adopted by everyone – Rod Stewart even rewrote its lyrics for his children named Sean and Kimberley. But despite its many versions, its wish for a son’s satisfaction was timelessly touching in Dylan’s original.
- “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens
- Look at me, I am old, but I am happy
This song is originally written for a musical set in the Russian Revolution, but because Stevens fell ill, the project was shelved. The song had higher and lower conversational parts sung at different pitches to suggest a father-and-son dialogue. It’s written for his son, Muhammad Islam. This song is also covered by Boyzone.
- “Glory” by Jay-Z (feat. B.I.C.)
- The most amazing feeling I feel
- Words can’t describe the feeling, for real (oh glory)
- Baby, I paint the sky blue
- My greatest creation was you
“Glory” hit the internet airwaves after two days when Jay-Z and Beyonce’s first child was born. This song is written by Jay-Z for Blue Ivy Carter, their daughter. It wasn’t among their greatest pieces of music, but it’s still a very endearing piece of art that expresses the joy of being new parents.
- “Beautiful Boy” by John Lennon
- Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans
This track by John Lennon is dedicated to his only child with Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon. This is a light, dreamy, and tender ode. By the way, Lennon’s song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” was about Julian’s (Sean Lennon’s half-brother) nursery school drawings. It seems like his children had a significant impact on Lennon’s musical career.
- “To Zion” by Lauryn Hill
- For I know that a gift so great
- Is only one God could create
- And I’m reminded every time I see your face
Lauryn Hill was urged from all sides to consider having an abortion so as not to ruin her rising musical career, but she didn’t. This song is a love song and a celebration of her child Zion David Marley – the child she put before any career. This track details her conversations with God as she dealt with the unplanned pregnancy.
- “Here For You” by Neil Young
- Listen to the sound
- Of this old heart beating for you
- Yes I’d miss you
- But I never want to hold you down
- You might say I’m here for you
Neil Young never does anything in halves. If he’s sad, you would know he’s deeply heartbroken. And if he’s in love, he’s so open about telling people all about it. This track was written for his daughter Amber Jean, when she was in her final year in college. This song expresses acceptance of her maturation and the pains of having to let go of an adult child that you once held with one hand.
- “Just the Two of Us” by Will Smith
- ‘Cause I know I loved you more than life itself
- Then to my knees, and I begged the Lord please
- Let me be a good daddy, all he needs
While this song was initially written as a love song by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr., Will Smith reimagined this as a jolly ode about a strong relationship between a father and son. He endearingly sings in this song how dedicated he is to his kids, Jaden and Trey Smith, his sons in which the song was inspired from.
- “Isn’t She Lovely?” by Stevie Wonder
- I never thought through love we’d be
- Making one as lovely as she
- But isn’t she lovely made from love
One of Stevie Wonder’s greatest hits, this song is dedicated to his daughter, Aisha Morris. This song sounds happy and a bit saccharine, but it surely is endearing and pleasing to the ears. Despite the song’s success, Wonder resisted Motown’s wish to release a shortened version as a single because he wants to preserve the original baby sounds that fill up the track.
- “Precious” by Depeche Mode
- Precious and fragile things
- Need special handling
- My God, what have we done to you?
Depeche Mode songwriter, Martin Gore, has been known for being guarded about the inspiration of his lyrics. However, he made a rare admission that this song came about upon considering the impact of his divorce to his children. In the lyrics, he refers to these three children as brittle and fragile objects, and the stark honesty of the track cuts through the band’s usual sheen in a self-deprecating manner.
- “Too Hard” by Kurt Vile
- Well I’ve tried
- Life is like a ball of beauty
- That makes you want to cry
Dedicated to his baby girl Awilda, the song “Too Hard” explains the point where you have to balance pleasure with responsibility. It’s an admittance that life can be too hard, but Kurt Vile promises the best, so it won’t be too hard for his daughter. It’s a lyrical piece of authentic acceptance of compromises for the family.
- “Havin’ a Baby” by R. Kelly
- I’m so glad to be a part of this
- Cuz girl, a child is heaven sent
- This is a blessing to me
- To have you build my seed
There are many songs about newfound fatherhood, but less about discovering that one is becoming a father to the process of childbirth. R. Kelly is so literal about the arrival of his son Robert Jr. In it, we get to hear how delighted he was from the moment he got the news of the pregnancy, all the way through a step-by-step narration of his son’s exit from the womb. It even goes on to say, “Push! Push” to the momma.
- “Stay up Late” by Talking Heads
- See him drink from a bottle
- See him eat from a plate
- Cute, cute as a button
This song from the Talking heads finds the songwriter, David Byrne, torn between the glee brought by his new son and the implication of treating her like a plaything. It’s an honest adoration for a little baby that looks oh so cute.
- “For my Daughter” by Kane Brown
- Yeah, I grew up without a dad
- I’m gonna be the best one I can be
- I said I’m gonna be a dad and I’m gonna be the best one I can be.
Kane Brown’s heartfelt song: “For my daughter” is dedicated for her daughter; Kingsley Rose who was born on October 30, 2019. The song is something that parents could relate to, especially with the idea of how fast children grow. The country singer, through his song promises to be always present in every life stage that Kingsley Rose would step into. The sweetest lyrics in the song is the part where the songwriter admits of growing up with no father on his side, but promises to be the best father he can be.
- “Lady” by Brett Young
- You can always run to daddy
- You’ll always be my baby
- But, look at her, baby girl, and you’ll learn
Another song that will also take our hearts away is how Brett Young described how he fell in love with his baby girl even when she was still in her mama’s womb. The singer-songwriter also included in his song how he wants his baby to be as strong as her mama. The song was both a dedication to his daughter but also included the adoration of the father to his loving wife who would have a great influence on his baby turning into a lady someday.
Final Thoughts
Babies are delightful beings. Even though they make parents’ question whether what they are doing is right or wrong, they sure make parents’ lives change for the better. These changes, including the happiness they bring in the family is expressed in so many ways. Singer-songwriters who have the chance to announce this wonderful feeling of parenthood, did not miss the chance to incorporate such feeling in their songs.