Twenty-three years ago I got a big surprise. Well, the surprise game a little longer ago than that, but it arrived in June 1998 in the form of a baby girl. My wife and I had been trying to have a child, and I really wanted a boy. When I found out that we were having a girl I was a bit disappointed — for about a minute. But then I started to think about being the daddy of a precious little daughter, and how much fun it would be to do with her all of the same things I had wanted to do with a son.

And that’s exactly what happened. The past 23 years have been an amazing journey. There have been ups and downs, happiness and sadness, frustration and utter joy. But I’ve never once regretted not having a son. In fact, I’ve celebrated having such a sweet and wonderful daughter.

The other day I heard a song that made me think of her — Cody Johnson’s “God Bless the Boy.” The next day I ran across Mark Harris’ “Find Your Wings” — that one really got the water flowing. And then I thought — I’ve seen lists of songs for fathers and daughters, but never one that I really thought was in-depth and complete. So I set out to create that myself.

What follows is my attempt at an ultimate father-daughter song set. The 60 songs are ordered indulgently on my part (“My Girl” is “our song” that we always played on breakfast trips to Waffle House, so that definitely had to come at the end). But if you’re a father (or daughter) looking for that special song to share with each other, or if you’re looking for the perfect first dance song to play at a wedding reception, I hope you’ll find it (and maybe more than one song) here.

1. “Your Heart Will Lead You Home” by Kenny Loggins. This one is the end-credits theme song from “The Tigger Movie. Loggins is the master of the father-and-child song (he has six on this list). At the end of a very sweet movie, this is an ultimately sweet song about always being welcome home.
2.  “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder. The first of two songs written by Stevie Wonder on this list, this one isn’t necessarily about a daughter. However, it is about someone who made your life infinitely better. In that respect, it’s perfect for this list.
3. “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty. Again, not necessarily a song about a daughter, but I dare anyone to listen of this, think of a little girl and then not smile when thinking about her dancing around in a field of wildflowers. Tom Petty’s perfect simplicity on this number makes it perfect for someone who doesn’t want their moment overshadowed by a flashy arrangement.
4. “When You Need Me” by Bruce Springsteen. As with the Petty song, there is nothing complex about this number. The message? If you need me, I’ll be there. There’s nothing better for a father to say to a daughter.
5. “There You’ll Be” by Faith Hill. And that’s the exact same message in this song, albeit from the other side. For the daughter who knows that her father has been there for her, this is the perfect song to share with your daddy.
6. “My Little Girl” by Jack Johnson. This is another tune that lets just a guitar, a voice and the lyrics tell the story. And the story is that his daughter has completely captured his heart. That’s what daughters do.
7. “King of the World” by Point of Grace. It took me a while to find 60 songs, and this was number 60. It shouldn’t be because it’s a perfect story about the journey a father and daughter take through life. So many songs end at childhood or a wedding. This one sees the father and daughter together in the golden years. Even the title is perfect — every dad wants to be the king of his daughter’s world.
8. “I Will Walk With You” by John Fogerty. This jaunty number offers something for the bluegrass-loving father and daughter. It’s a great message from the former Creedence front-man — exactly what the title says, no matter what, I will walk with you.
9. “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw. From the film “My Friend Flicka” comes this wonderful song that captures the feelings of every daughter’s father. The chorus says it all: “You’re beautiful, baby, from the outside in/ Chase your dreams, but always know the road/ That’ll lead you home again/ Go on, take on this whole world/ But to me you know you’ll always be/ My little girl.”
10. “Sweet Pea” by Amos Lee. Lee used to work as a teacher and bartender before he landed his first recording contract. Songs like this prove he was worth the wait. A ukulele and his voice do most of the work, but the sweet message comes through clearly.
11. “For My Dad” by Nancy Sinatra. It’s a little dated, but this song is, like this playlist, nicely indulgent. Nancy (whose father was clearly Frank) tells us that if we don’t like the song, it’s OK because it’s not for us — it’s for her dad. Apparently Old Blue Eyes was an exceptional daddy.
12. “Right By You (for Luna)” by John Legend. Legend, who has two children with Chrissy Teigen, wrote this song for his first child, who was born in 2016. It’s perfectly John Legend with a blend of instruments from strings to saxophone, and it perfectly expressing the feelings of a new father.
13. “The Real Thing” by Kenny Loggins. Sometimes even good dads don’t get it all right. Loggins wrote this song for his daughter (Isabella, whose name was originally Amanda) after he and his wife had divorced. This is a great message that true love can exist even in the wake of major disappointments.
14. “My Darling” by Wilco. This number sounds a lot like the Beatles instead of a band based out of Chicago. It captures the hopes of every father try and comfort and reassure his child.
15. “Daddy’s Angel” by Carl Brister. Some songs don’t even make an attempt to hide that they’re gunning for your heartstrings. Brister’s “Daddy’s Angel” starts with a child giggling and saying “Hi Daddy.” It was written for his two sons, but Brister’s tune works even better for daughters. After all, who’s more angelic — daughters or sons?
16. “Dance With My Daughter” by Jason Blaine. You’ll find that this is a familiar theme in a lot of father-daughter songs. Daddies think about dancing with their daughters now because, in part, it reminds us of the day we’ll dance with them on the day we give them to someone else.
17. “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” by Billy Ray Cyrus. Regardless of how you might feel about Miley Cyrus’s career, the video for this song will get you. Billy Ray’s bittersweet speaks about raising a child but not being entirely ready when it’s time for her to set out on her own. The video intersperses images and videos of Billy Ray and Miley together throughout life. Listen and watch with a hankie.
18. “Daddy’s Girl” by Red Sovine. This one may seem a little out of place compared to others on the list. It’s old-school country, complete with slide guitar, and it has a group of little girls singing the chorus. But listen to the words. For me, the words sound like a replay of my life with my used-to-be-a-little-girl. (“I know I’m Daddy’s number one, for he loves me like I was his son.”).
19. “Daughter” by Loudon Wainwright III. This might be the most basic song on the list. It gained popularity through the movie, “Knocked Up.” Watch the unofficial video (made by a third party) and you’ll probably get some idea of Wainwright’s inspiration. (“That’s my daughter in the water, who’d have ever thought her? Who’d have ever thought?)
20. “Meet the Man” by Noah Schnacky. This is the first song on the list to come from a perspective other than the father or daughter. Schnacky sings from the point-of-view of a man who is in love with a girl — and he wants to meet the father that raised her to be so wonderful. I hope my future son-in-law is this respectful!

Part 2 (songs 21-40) • Part 3 (songs 41-60)

Copyright © 2021 Doug DeBolt.