That's What Daddy's Do

Album: Change My Mind (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Change My Mind chronicles a six-month period that was one of the most challenging times of Billy Ray Cyrus' life and included issues with his famous teenage daughter Miley. This was the last song he wrote for the project. He told The Boot: "Sometimes as a dad you've got to be willing to make decisions that are in the best interest of your family and you just gotta try; you just gotta try and do what's right for your family. Sometimes as a daddy you make sacrifices and you don't always do what you want to do. You do what's best for your family, and that's what daddies do. That's what it's about."
  • Cyrus penned this song in New York City in November 2011. "I was in looking at that big ol' city out there thinking a lot about my dad and about my family and that I'm the dad now," he recalled to The Boot. "The song just came to me and I sang it: 'that's what daddy's do is shield you from the rain, shield you in the storm, there to ease the pain, wherever you may roam, or what you're going through, know I'm by your side, that's what daddy's do.' I told my manager the next day, 'I wrote a song last night and I think it's pretty good.'"
  • The grammar in the title is highly questionable. The apostrophe makes "Daddy" possessive, so this would mean it's his "do." Removing the apostrophe would make more sense, but the plural of "daddy" would be "daddies," so if Billy Ray is trying to explain that fathers everywhere do that, it should be "That's What Daddies Do."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.