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Father Of Mine Lyrics
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 tke 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
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 am 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 dad he gave me a name
Then he walked away
I think the meaning of this song is pretty obvious. But what I love about it is how Art Alexakis invokes a perfect mixture of anger and sadness/regret. Growing up, I was always a daddy's girl so when he moved out and his drinking spiraled out of control it completely broke my heart. The first couple of lines just scream "IT DIDNT HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS!" Since those days, my father has actually tried be back in my life, but like Alexakis, I've given up trying to understand him and at the end of the day the only thing I truly want from my father is for him to fully comprehend how much lasting pain he caused and why I can't have a normal, trusting relationship with him. Thus, it really strikes me everytime Alexakis sings "I was 10 years old, doing all that I could" and "I will never be safe, I will never be sane" because you can hear in his voice that he's not just angry- there is so much pent up pain and sadness and uncontrollable emotion in a situation like this that is simply easier to release as anger. This song has really helped me sort out and understand my conflicting emotions...so thanks Everclear!
i don't relate to this directly (i didn't really have issues with my dad), but somehow this song makes me cry every time i hear it. very honest and emotional
@freakishorde same for me, I had good parents, my dad was a little strict, but not abusive. At the time this band and song came out, I wasn’t really a fan, but it was cool. My friend that grew up without his father told me it was a great song and to listen to the lyrics next time I hear it. Years went by, then it came on the radio and I started crying, what’s gets me is I will always be weird inside I will always be lame. I just heard it again today and I think...
@freakishorde same for me, I had good parents, my dad was a little strict, but not abusive. At the time this band and song came out, I wasn’t really a fan, but it was cool. My friend that grew up without his father told me it was a great song and to listen to the lyrics next time I hear it. Years went by, then it came on the radio and I started crying, what’s gets me is I will always be weird inside I will always be lame. I just heard it again today and I think I cried more than ever before for a song. Thank you everclear
My father didn't walk out on me but he was shot an killed when I was almost 7 and the verse in this song makes me feel like it is normal to feel the way I have felt.
"I will never be safe I will never be sane I will always be weird inside I will always be lame
Now I am 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"
(I even have a child of my own now that is a girl)
i love this song. It SO relates to me. My dad cheated on my mom when I was 11, with someone who lived across the globe and on the internet....He left my mom this huge letter, that I hvaen't even read. But, he doesn't call...alot, atleast. He doesn't visit. He doesn't pay child support. nothing. Never has he gave me a hug nor any affection. My dad is a nice, funny guy. But he has anger problems. I dont really exactly know if he loves me or not, but I love him. It's been 2-3 years now....he still hasn't sent me anythin for my birthday or called for anything.
@UsedAllTearz1 damn sorry, I hope things got better for you since.
@UsedAllTearz1 damn sorry, I hope things got better for you since.
This song is beautiful, and listening to it is so therapeutic for me. It's nice having a song like this that I can relate to. Thanks Art, for writing such a great song.
ive had a 'normal' childhood, with the little ups and downs of life... but this song and 'wonderful' bring up such emotions in me.
the line Take me to a place inside that is so hard to reach is one of my favorite lines ever.
@asher27 The song “Wonderful,” is that by Everclear… or are you talking about Adam Ant? I know, weird question. If Everclear sings a song called Wonderful, I’d like to hear it. But I happen to be the biggest Adam Ant fan there is.
@asher27 The song “Wonderful,” is that by Everclear… or are you talking about Adam Ant? I know, weird question. If Everclear sings a song called Wonderful, I’d like to hear it. But I happen to be the biggest Adam Ant fan there is.
@asher27 The song “Wonderful,” is that by Everclear… or are you talking about Adam Ant? I know, weird question. If Everclear sings a song called Wonderful, I’d like to hear it. But I happen to be the biggest Adam Ant fan there is.
@asher27 The song “Wonderful,” is that by Everclear… or are you talking about Adam Ant? I know, weird question. If Everclear sings a song called Wonderful, I’d like to hear it. But I happen to be the biggest Adam Ant fan there is.
By the way, I relate to Art BIG TIME.
By the way, I relate to Art BIG TIME.
Awesome song. I am close with my father and I love him very much, but I have several friends that I grew up with that didn't have a father around and most of them are kind of fucked up in their own way. They either have problems with alcohol or other drugs or even worse. I can only imagine my life without my dad. This song is very emotional for me mostly because of my friends' circumstances. Great song BTW
What is and always was amazing about everclear and art was the way he can make you feel what he felt with his lyrics and the feelings he gives to his songs. This on is the one of the best examples the feeling he conveys are so raw and real that you feel like you have been through the whole thing yourself. I never had an abusive parents to say the truth i have amazing parents, but while listening to the song I can see how he felt.
My father didn't actually walk out on me rather he was shot when I was just about to turn 7, we had a great relationship and his death as you can imagine changed my life dramatically. This song made me feel like it was normal to feel the way I do when he says :
I will never be safe I will never be sane I will always be weird inside I will always be lame
Now I am 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
(P.S I do have a daughter now too)
This song so resonates for me that even now, after all these years, hearing the song or reading the lyrics still evokes a powerful emotional response at the center of my being.