Father of Mine

Album: So Much for the Afterglow (1997)
Charted: 70
Play Video
  • Father of mine
    Tell me where have you been
    You know I just closed my eyes
    My whole world disappeared
    Father of mine
    Take me back to the day
    Yeah, when I was still your golden boy
    Back before you went away

    I remember the blue skies
    Walking the block
    I loved it when you held me high
    I loved to hear you talk
    You would take me to the movie
    You would take me to the beach
    Take me to a place inside
    That is so hard to reach

    Father of mine
    Tell me where did you go
    Yeah, you had the world inside your hand
    But you did not seem to know
    Father of mine
    Tell me what do you see
    When you look back at your wasted life
    And you don't see me

    I was ten years old
    Doing all that I could
    Wasn't easy for me to be a scared white boy
    In a black neighborhood
    Sometimes you would send me a birthday card
    With a five dollar bill
    Yeah, I never understood you then
    And I guess I never will

    Daddy gave me a name
    My dad he gave me a name (then he walked away)
    Daddy gave me a name (then he walked away)
    My dad he gave me a name

    Daddy gave me a name
    Daddy gave me a name (then he walked away)
    Daddy gave me a name (then he walked away)
    My daddy gave me a name

    Yeah, yeah, oh yeah

    Father of mine
    Tell me where have you been
    Yeah, I just closed my eyes
    And the world disappeared
    Father of mine
    Tell me how do you sleep
    With the children you abandoned
    And the wife I saw you beat

    I will never be safe
    I will never be sane
    I will always be weird inside
    I will always be lame
    Now I'm a grown man
    With a child of my own
    And I swear I'm not going to let her know
    All the pain I have known

    Then he walked away
    Daddy gave me a name
    Then he walked away
    My daddy gave me a name
    Then he walked away
    My daddy gave me a name
    Then he walked away
    My daddy gave me a name
    Then he walked away (yeah)
    Then he walked away (yeah)
    Then he walked away (oh, yeah) Writer/s: Art Alexakis, Craig Montoya, Greg Eklund
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 18

  • Tarbilly from TennesseeI'm almost 60yo, and this song breaks my heart a little bit up every time I hear it. Sad to see how many people it resonates with.
  • Big Mo from MidwestThis is my autobiography
  • Jaspeet13 from Jurupa Valley CaI cried. 10/10 if any of my brothers read this im here bro.
  • Daniel from AtlantaI appreciate Art putting those feelings into words. I take them to heart as do many other fathers, who, now put more effort into knowing and understanding their families and kids. Thank you! We need more of this in society.
  • Korey Starkey from Fostoria OhioI can absolutely relate.
  • Gus from Fort Smith, ArI listen to this song a couple of times a year just to keep myself grounded and doing the best I can for my son.
  • J from Austin, TxListen to the wounds of this man, we're all wounded by our father but this is so commonplace. Why? It takes great courage to put this out there. God can heal, just humble yourself and ask him. Don't take my word for it, try it. You'll never know if you don't try.
  • Emma from Boston, MaInstead of song reminding me of my father, it really reminds me of my brother who a lot older than me, who meant the world to me when i was little, and then he got up and left home barely ever talks to me since. The sing really explains all of the emotions I have towards him.
  • Mollee from Philadelphia, PaMy sister and I used to listen to this song together, neither one of us has seen or heard from our father in over 11 years. I love Everclear almost too much.
  • Heather from Newark, OhI love this song, but instead of it reminding me of my dad, whom I love and respect, it reminds me of my mother who is the deadbeat. She was gone when I was 17 with a younger brother and sister. It's definitely not just the dads that are the deadbeats.
  • Angela West from Tomball, TxAll Everclear's songs seem to run parrallel to my life! Nothing like Everclear to numb!
  • AnonymousI LOVE EVERCLEAR...but the one things that really stands out (especially about the lead singer's lyrics) is that they are so universal. I mean, look how many people have responded to it!
  • Vanessa from The Colony, TxI think that a lot of emotion was put more into this song rather to other songs which make it very meaningful and awesome. Vanessa, The Colony, Tx
  • Sarah from Chicago, IlI like and can relate to the lyric "Father of mine tell me what do you see when you look back on your wasted life and you dont see me"
    My didn't leave but he doesn't have much to do with me
    anyway good song
  • Leon from Waterbury, CtI can completely relate to this song.
  • Indy from Charlotte, NcFirst song I ever heard during which I had to stop my car because I was crying.
    Very powerful and descriptive of a lot of kids of divorce.
  • Nick from Arlington Heights, IlI would disagree with the statement that this is one of the "few" autobiographical songs by Everclear..it seems to me that every song they have done is either about heroin addiction or Art Alexakis' childhood..
  • Jon from Grand Forks, NdThis song sold me on Everclear. If you don't get it, just enjoy the guitars
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets

Curt Kirkwood of Meat PuppetsSongwriter Interviews

The (Meat)puppetmaster takes us through songs like "Lake Of Fire" and "Backwater," and talks about performing with Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged.

Song Cities

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?

Chris Rea

Chris ReaSongwriter Interviews

It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.