Father's Day
Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then gave me a faint little smile
Like she knew that I
Might be gone, gone for a while
And if you're looking for advice my dear
I have nothing to say
I am always at a loss for words
But the bruises keep the breaks at bay
On Father's Day
And the flowers they did bloom
On the day that you were born
They're like diamonds littering
On the cross on my shores
And if you're looking for advice my dear
I have nothing to say
I am always at a loss for words
When you look at me that way
But the bruises keep the breaks at bay
On Father's Day
But you can make yourself better
Better than me
You are more than just a product of your history
You're like you Mom, little girl
And believe me, that's the best thing in the world
And I'm sorry for the things that get messed up
And they will be places that you may not get enough
And some memories you wish you never had
But won't kill you makes you stronger
And you just tell them
You got that from your dad
And if you're looking for advice my dear
I have nothing to say
I am always at a loss for words
When you look at me that way
And I'll always, always love you
No matter what you do
When you're growing up without me
I will always be with you
Must be something in the way that I was raised
And the bruises keep the breaks at bay
Yeah the bruises keep the breaks at bay
On Father's Day
The song "Father's Day" by Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers is a poignant reflection on the complex emotions and relationships shared between a father and his daughter. The opening lines describe a tender moment between the father and daughter, as she holds his hand and gives him a small smile before he must leave. The father struggles to find the right words to offer advice to his daughter, but he acknowledges that his own bruises and failures have helped him avoid breaking down completely. The chorus is a melancholy reflection on the difficulties of fatherhood, but also a recognition that love and hope can persist through even the toughest times.
The second verse touches on the birth of the daughter, with the imagery of flowers like diamonds on the father's "shores" adding to the bittersweet tone. The father again struggles to offer advice, but expresses his faith that his daughter can overcome his own shortcomings and be better than him. He apologizes for the mistakes he knows he will make, but encourages her to take strength from the difficult memories and use them to become stronger. The final lines reiterate his love for her, and his belief that even when he is not there, he will always be with her.
Line by Line Meaning
The way she held my hand
My daughter held my hand in a way that conveyed a sense of understanding between us
And then gave me a faint little smile
She acknowledged my presence with a gentle smile
Like she knew that I
She seemed to realize that I was about to leave her life for a while
Might be gone, gone for a while
I will not be able to be with her and she seems to understand that
And if you're looking for advice my dear
If you are seeking guidance from me
I have nothing to say
I am at a loss for words
I am always at a loss for words
I am never quite sure what to say
When you look at me that way
When she looks at me with that gaze
But the bruises keep the breaks at bay
Being a father is challenging but it keeps me stable and whole
On Father's Day
For this holiday that honors fathers
And the flowers they did bloom
The flowers were in full bloom
On the day that you were born
The day my daughter was born
They're like diamonds littering
The beauty of the flowers is a reminder of the preciousness of life
On the cross on my shores
The beach area where I live
But you can make yourself better
You have the ability to improve yourself
Better than me
Better than what I've been able to accomplish
You are more than just a product of your history
Your past does not define you completely
You're like you Mom, little girl
My daughter shares many traits with her mother, which is a wonderful thing
And believe me, that's the best thing in the world
Having those qualities is a great thing in life
And I'm sorry for the things that get messed up
I apologize for the mistakes I've made
And they will be places that you may not get enough
There will be times when you feel like things could be better
And some memories you wish you never had
There may be experiences that you wish you never had to go through
But won't kill you makes you stronger
Difficulties can make us tougher and more resilient
And you just tell them
You can say to others
You got that from your dad
That strength came from me
And I'll always, always love you
I will forever and unconditionally love you
No matter what you do
Regardless of the choices you make
When you're growing up without me
As you continue to mature in life without me physically there
I will always be with you
I will always be present in your life in a spiritual and emotional sense
Must be something in the way that I was raised
Perhaps my upbringing has influenced my parenting style
Yeah the bruises keep the breaks at bay
Even though being a father can leave its marks, it also keeps me grounded and stable
On Father's Day
This is true for Father's Day specifically
Contributed by Lila B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.