Watching Scotty Grow

Album: Watching Scotty Grow (1970)
Charted: 11
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This touching song is about the joys of fatherhood. The singer will take a night at home listening to music with his young son over a trip to the nightclub. Scotty will only grow up once.

    It's about the son of Mac Davis, who wrote the song when Scotty was 4 years old.
  • Mac Davis had written hits for Elvis Presley, including "A Little Less Conversation" and "In The Ghetto." He wrote "Watching Scotty Grow" for his debut album, released in 1970, but his publisher told him not to record it. "He said it didn't sound like me," Davis told Songfacts.

    How a very personal song about the singer's child doesn't sound like that singer is a question that may never be answered, but Davis took the advice and gave the song to Bobby Goldsboro, who had a huge hit with "Honey" in 1968. "Watching Scotty Grow" ended up being a substantial hit for Goldsboro; Mac Davis released his own version on his second album, I Believe In Music, in 1972.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.