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
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)

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Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Father of Mine Lyrics as written by Craig Montoya Art Alexakis

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Father Of Mine song meanings

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69 Comments

+3
General Comment
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 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!

Reason:

georgiagirlon May 03, 2009 Link
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+2
General Comment
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)

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)

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aburkerton April 18, 2011 Link
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@aburkert
+1
General Comment
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.

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.

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Banjaxed08on December 21, 2006 Link
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@Banjaxed08
+1
General Comment
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.

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.

Reason:

asher27on May 13, 2007 Link
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@asher27

@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.

Angfisher25on May 24, 2022

@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.

Angfisher25on May 24, 2022
+1
General Comment
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

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

Reason:

freakishordeon October 01, 2007 Link
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@freakishorde
+1
General Comment
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

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

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convinceon January 29, 2009 Link
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@convince
+1
General Comment
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.

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.

Reason:

GrendelsLairon October 01, 2009 Link
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@GrendelsLair
+1
General Comment
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)

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)

Reason:

aburkerton April 18, 2011 Link
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@aburkert
+1
General Comment
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.

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.

Reason:

WrySatyron December 02, 2012 Link
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@WrySatyr
+1
General Comment
This is one of only a handful of songs that really get to me. I'm not going to get into personal details of my life, but the lyrics "Tell me what do you see when you look back at your wasted life and you don't see me?" and "Now I'm a grown man with a child of my own..." fit perfectly along with my experiences as well with a good deal of the rest of the song... For me, it's painful to listen to this.

This is one of only a handful of songs that really get to me. I'm not going to get into personal details of my life, but the lyrics "Tell me what do you see when you look back at your wasted life and you don't see me?" and "Now I'm a grown man with a child of my own..." fit perfectly along with my experiences as well with a good deal of the rest of the song... For me, it's painful to listen to this.

Reason:

mikepor10on December 27, 2016 Link
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@mikepor10

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Father Of Mine

Everclear

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