by Amy Gold
Songs about family are numerous and especially popular around the holidays. What other subject can evoke so many different emotions and open up so many different avenues of inspiration and thought? Family, in most cases, is the single most important factor in our lives, something that forms us and helps us to become the people we are. If not for their families, most songwriters would not have the fuel it takes to drive their creative engines.
And so songs with family in the title or revolving around the subject of family have existed from the earliest days of songwriting. From sentimental ballads to celebratory anthems, family has been the inspiration for so many well-loved songs. And even as the definition of what constitutes a family has changed, the love and connection that bond evokes remains the same.
Songs about family can focus on a particular relationship, such as that between father and daughter, or can evoke a larger concept of the family unit, beyond the nuclear family to the family of man. In the early days of songwriting, pieces like "Home, Sweet Home" spoke lovingly of the pull of family and home on the heartstrings. Many a bride has danced to "Daddy's Little Girl" by the Mills Brothers with her father on her big day.
As society grew and changed, so, too, did the songwriters approach to the idea of family. Pop groups like Sister Sledge gave us a rallying cry with songs like "We Are Family," which has been stretched to fit many different interpretations of the word. And songs like Bruce Springsteen's "My Hometown" evoke the idea of home and family as encompassing more than just a single household.
Perhaps no other genre has taken to the subject quite like country music. Many country songwriters have given us heartfelt tunes about the love only a family can give. Still others have painted bleaker pictures of the hard lives with little money that can often bring families to the breaking point.
Many modern songwriters have taken a more down to earth approach to the subject, not backing away from the tough end of things when it comes to songs with family connections. Others have been able to look back on their families as adults and gained new perspective about what we can learn from one another. Songs like Crosby, Stills and Nash's "Teach Your Children" exhort us to keep the concept of family alive for generations to come.
Whether they're upbeat, teary-eyed or even tough talking, songs about family can reach us all and open our eyes and hearts like no others. It is a subject that is impossible to avoid for any of us and one which can cause a great deal of emotional turmoil, but in the end nothing stands the test of time quite like family.
Look into family-related songs and you'll find a treasure trove of hits. There will be something to satisfy every taste and express every conceivable emotion. Be it ever so humble, there is nothing quite like family and no better subject to sing about.
1927
- My Blue Heaven - Paul Whiteman
(This song also topped the charts for Gene Austin that same year and, in 1928, became a hit for Nick Lucas, Don Voorhees, and Seger Ellis. It later also became a hit for Sammy Kaye (1939), Fats Domino (1956), and Duane Eddy (1961).)
1941
- Yes, My Darling Daughter - Dinah Shore
(This song also became a hit for Glenn Miller that same year.)
1944
- The Prodigal Son - Roy Acuff
1945
- Leave The Dishes In The Sink, Ma - Spike Jones And His City Slickers
(Vocals by Del Porter.)
1950
- Daddy's Little Girl - The Mills Brothers
(This song also became a hit for Dick Todd that same year and later also charted for Al Martino in 1967.)
1954
- Oh! My Pa-Pa - Eddie Fisher
(This song, which topped the charts, is an English version of the song, "Oh Mein Papa," from the Swiss musical, "Fireworks." "Oh, Mein Papa" also charted that same year for Eddie Calvert and Ray Anthony and later also became a hit for Dick Lee in 1961.)
1955
- (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays - Perry Como
1959
- Walkin' To Mother's - Ray Anthony
1961
- Shop Around - The Miracles
(This song later also became a hit for The Captain And Tennille in 1976.) - Theme From My Three Sons - Lawrence Welk
(Title theme from the TV series starring Fred MacMurray.)
1962
- Father Knows Best - The Radiants
- Goodbye Dad - The Castle Sisters
- Mama Sang A Song - Stan Kenton
(This song also became a hit for Walter Brennan and Bill Anderson that same year.) - What Did Daddy Do - Shep And The Limelites
1963
- 18 Yellow Roses - Bobby Darin
- Daughter - The Blenders
- Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! - Allan Sherman
(This funny song, which is in the form of a letter from summer camp, is an adaptation of Ponchielli's "Dance Of The Hours.") - Mama Didn't Lie - Jan Bradley
- My Daddy Knows Best - The Marvelettes
- Why Do Kids Grow Up - Randy And The Rainbows
1964
- Tell Me Mamma - Christine Quaite
1965
- For Mama - Connie Francis
(This song also became a hit for Jerry Vale that same year.) - I Can Never Go Home Any More - The Shangri-Las
- Poor Man's Son - The Reflections
- Seventh Son - Johnny Rivers
1966
- Don't Worry Mother, Your Son's Heart Is Pure - The McCoys
- Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow? - The Rolling Stones
- The Men In My Little Girl's Life - Mike Douglas
(This song debuted on the charts on Christmas Day of the previous year.) - You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
(This song topped both the R&B and Pop/Rock charts and later also became a hit for Phil Collins in 1983.)
1967
- A Letter To Dad - Every Father's Teenage Son
- An Open Letter To My Teenage Son - Victor Lundberg
- Red Roses For Mom - Bobby Vinton
- You Better Sit Down Kids - Cher
1968
- Father Of Girls - Perry Como
- Tell Mama - Etta James
- The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp - O.C. Smith
- Two Little Kids - Peaches And Herb
1969
- Color Him Father - The Winstons
- Daddy Sang Bass - Johnny Cash
- Daddy's Little Man - O.C. Smith
- Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da - Arthur Conley
(This song later also became a hit for the Beatles in 1976.) - Son Of A Lovin' Man - Buchanan Brothers
- Son Of A Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
(This song later also became a hit for Aretha Franklin in 1970.) - Son Of A Travelin' Man - Ed Ames
1970
- Coal Miner's Daughter - Loretta Lynn
(This song, which topped the Country charts, was the title song from the movie starring Sissy Spacek, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress.) - Don't Cry Daddy - Elvis Presley
- Father Come On Home - Pacific Gas And Electric
- How Can I Tell My Mom And Dad - The Lovelites
- Mama Liked The Roses - Elvis Presley
- Patches - Clarence Carter
- Teach Your Children - Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young
1971
- Family Affair - Sly And The Family Stone
(This song topped both the R&B and Pop/Rock charts and later also became a hit for Shabba Ranks in 1994.) - Grandma's Hands - Bill Withers
- Tell Mama - Savoy Brown
- Walk Easy My Son - Jerry Butler
- Watching Scotty Grow - Bobby Goldsboro
1972
- Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast - Wayne Newton
- Everything I Own - Bread
- I Found My Dad - Joe Simon
- Once You Understand - Think
(This song recharted in 1974.) - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
(This song topped the Pop/Rock charts and also charted for The Undisputed Truth that same year. It later also became a hit for Wolf in 1983.) - Son Of My Father - Giorgio Moroder
(This song also became a hit for Chicory that same year.) - Sylvia's Mother - Dr. Hook
1973
- Daddy Could Swear, I Declare - Gladys Knight And The Pips
- Danny's Song - Anne Murray
- Follow Your Daughter Home - The Guess Who
- I'll Always Love My Mama - The Intruders
- Mama Was A Rock And Roll Singer - Sonny And Cher
- What's Your Mama's Name - Tanya Tucker
1974
- A Mother For My Children - The Whispers
- Daddy What If - Bobby Bare
- Keep It In The Family - Leon Haywood
- No Charge - Melba Montgomery
(This song later also became a hit for Shirley Caesar in 1975.) - The Man That Turned My Mama On - Tanya Tucker
1976
- (One More Year Of) Daddy's Little Girl - Ray Sawyer (Dr. Hook)
1977
- Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas
- Grandmother's Song - Steve Martin
1979
- We Are Family - Sister Sledge
1981
- My Mother's Eyes - Bette Midler
- Poor Man's Son - Survivor
1982
- Mama Used To Say - Junior
1986
- My Hometown - Bruce Springsteen
1987
- Running In The Family - Level 42
1988
- Family Man - Fleetwood Mac
- Father Figure - George Michael
(This song topped the charts.)
1990
- Keep It Together - Madonna
1992
- No Son Of Mine - Genesis
1994
- Addams Family (Whoomp!) - Tag Team
- Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) - Billy Joel
1995
- Dear Mama - 2 Pac
1996
- Daughter - Pearl Jam
1997
- Butterfly Kisses - Raybon Bros.
(This song also became a hit for Bob Carlisle that same year.)
1998
- 26 Cents - The Wilkinsons
- A Song For Mama - Boyz II Men
- Father - LL Cool J
1999
- Father Of Mine - Everclear
- Hands Of A Working Man - Ty Herndon
- He Didn't Have To Be - Brad Paisley
2000
- Just Another Day In Paradise - Phil Vassar
- The Best Day - George Strait
2001
- I'm Already There - Lonestar
2002
- Family Portrait - Pink
- The Baby - Blake Shelton
2003
- My Front Porch Looking In - Lonestar
2004
- Baby Girl - Sugarland
- Bridging The Gap - Nas
- Daughters - John Mayer
- In My Daughter's Eyes - Martina McBride
- Mr. Mom - Lonestar