The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
My dad sitting in his chair
He sits and stares all day
At his flat screen TV
At Christmas he got from me
His fingers, they give a touch
Tells me that I paid too much
Sits there and watches alone
Give him everything I own
My dad sitting in his chair
Still got hair and pride
Ask him how he's feeling
With an emphysema grin, he's fine
Cancels doctor's appointments
Says they'll only make him come back
He's still got some anointment
From when my sister had that rash
His passion's always been golf
Always pulled for the Twins
Broke his back some months ago
Ain't' complained of a twinge
My dad sitting in a chair
Does a crossword there each day
He's got his Chocolate Swoon
And his spitoon, takes aim
There's a Bible on the floor
Next to the baseball box score
On his dresser's a picture of
His one and only grandson
My dad sitting in his chair
Never seen me play
He gets a kick from the newspaper
When he sees the family name
There's a Bible on the floor
Next to the baseball box score
And on his dresser, pictures of
His one and only grandson
My dad I love
He sits and stares all day
At his flat screen TV
At Christmas he got from me
His fingers, they give a touch
Tells me that I paid too much
Sits there and watches alone
Give him everything I own
My dad sitting in his chair
Still got hair and pride
Ask him how he's feeling
With an emphysema grin, he's fine
Cancels doctor's appointments
Says they'll only make him come back
He's still got some anointment
From when my sister had that rash
His passion's always been golf
Always pulled for the Twins
Broke his back some months ago
Ain't' complained of a twinge
My dad sitting in a chair
Does a crossword there each day
He's got his Chocolate Swoon
And his spitoon, takes aim
There's a Bible on the floor
Next to the baseball box score
On his dresser's a picture of
His one and only grandson
My dad sitting in his chair
Never seen me play
He gets a kick from the newspaper
When he sees the family name
There's a Bible on the floor
Next to the baseball box score
And on his dresser, pictures of
His one and only grandson
My dad I love
Lyrics submitted by wheaties409
My Dad Lyrics as written by Paul Westerberg
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song really hits home for me. My own dad, in his last years before he died had shrunk his living space and existance down to 4-5 little pleasures in life like so many Seniors do. My Dad was a rabid Montreal Expos fan and used to watch them on a modest size TV, he would get angry if I suggested buying him a new bigger and better one. For his last 4-5 years, everything he already had in his life was all he would need going forward. He occupied his time , reading the newspaper, talking to my bros on the phone, watching or listening to the Expos games on the Radio and looking forward to seeing my young family on Sundays. Any time we ever tried to buy him something he insisted we bring it back cause it was a waste of money. As for Doctors , yeah , they were preety much useless and it was a waste of time and taxpayers money for them to continually see him. The line about the ointments (not anoitments) is hilarious. When I was growing up, we always had a medicine cabinet full of old creams and rubs , probably going back several decades. He never through any of that stuff out cause it was a waste and you never know when you might need it again.