With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair, infusing his music and lyrics with an uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today's production-heavy climate.
Craig makes it a point to keep the relationship with his fans personal, inviting and accepting any opportunity to make his audience as much a part of the performance as he is. Don't be surprised if one day you find yourself enjoying one of Craig's renowned shows in the comfort of your own living room.
In 2012, Cardiff was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo, and for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Contemporary Singer of the Year.
For more information, tour dates, and music, please visit the official Craig Cardiff site.
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Craig Cardiff's Bandcamp page
Father Daughter Dance
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
on this perfect day
with everyone who loves you
gathered in from far-away.
know you'll always be
my perfect heart
my little heart
when you arrived and turned me into
in your darkest days
through joy and tears
oh daughter, know we're always here
I love you more
than all the way
past florida, china,
the united states
I love you more
than the sky has blue
more than all the white
in the clouds too.
I love you more
than all the hate
that our love
will fade away
we're all just monkey shapes
clocks wound up with springs
some get awhile, some just a short swing
we're all trying our best
saying the same thing
how we love you, be safe, we love you
repeat verse 1
Craig Cardiff's song Father Daughter Dance is a beautiful ode from a father to his daughter, on the occasion of her wedding day. The father addresses his daughter as his little heart on this perfect day when all the people who love her have gathered from far away. He assures her that she will always be his perfect heart, and reflects on how she turned him into the proudest pop (father) standing up with her. He promises to be with her through her darkest days, joy and tears and reassures her that he and her family will always be there for her. The father then confesses his unconditional love for his daughter, which is more than the distance between Florida, China, and the United States, more than the blue sky and the white clouds, and more than all the hate that exists in the world.
Furthermore, the song's lyrics encourage listeners to reflect on the fragility and impermanence of life. The father uses the metaphor of monkey shapes, implying that humans are all unique with their curvatures and different wiring. However, our time on earth is brief, as we are all clocks wound up with springs, with some ticking away longer than others. Nonetheless, despite this uncertainty and precariousness, the father assures his daughter of the constant love and support from her family.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my little heart,
The singer addresses their daughter affectionately and endearingly.
on this perfect day
It is a special day for the singer.
with everyone who loves you
The people gathered together care deeply for the daughter.
gathered in from far-away.
The people came from different places to celebrate with the daughter and her family.
know you'll always be
The artist assures their daughter of their love and support.
my perfect heart
The singer views their daughter as perfect and dear to them.
my little heart
The singer addresses their daughter using a term of endearment.
when you arrived and turned me into
The artist became a parent when their daughter was born.
the proudest pop standing up with you
The artist is proud of their daughter and proud to stand with her.
in your darkest days
The artist acknowledges that their daughter will face difficult times.
through joy and tears
The singer will support their daughter through good times and bad.
oh daughter, know we're always here
The artist reassures their daughter that they will always be there for her.
I love you more
The singer expresses their love for their daughter.
than all the way
The singer loves their daughter more than a long distance or journey.
past florida, china,
The singer uses the names of faraway places to illustrate their point.
the united states
The artist refers to a whole country to show their love for their daughter knows no bounds.
I love you more
The artist reiterates their love for their daughter.
than the sky has blue
The singer loves their daughter more than the vastness of the sky.
more than all the white
The singer loves their daughter more than the clouds.
in the clouds too.
The artist extends their metaphor about the clouds.
I love you more
The artist again emphasizes their love for their daughter.
than all the hate
The artist rejects hate and focuses on their love.
that our love
The singer's love for their daughter is strong and resilient.
will fade away
The artist acknowledges that relationships may weaken, but their love for their daughter will not.
we're all just monkey shapes
The singer humbly acknowledges that humans are merely animals.
clocks wound up with springs
The singer evokes the image of a clock as a metaphor for life and its limited time.
some get awhile, some just a short swing
The singer acknowledges the brevity of life and how some people enjoy longer lives than others.
we're all trying our best
The artist acknowledges that life is difficult and everyone is doing the best they can.
saying the same thing
The artist believes that everyone ultimately wants the same thing for their loved ones.
how we love you, be safe, we love you
The singer underscores their deep love for their daughter and their wish for her safety.
repeat verse 1
The song concludes by repeating the first verse, emphasizing the singer's love for their daughter.
Contributed by Makayla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
P.R Beats
Beautiful song, absolutely love it! (:
Richard Michalek
Dad of four daughters, all who are out have been married but I've never been invited. I'm broken hearted and this beautiful song makes me cry.