All these Mother/Stepmother considerations over the past week have got me thinking… or, rather, remembering.
When Doug Supernaw broke onto the scene with this song, I was a divorced kid being shuttled back and forth between my parents. My mom had a boyfriend who helped us out a lot around the house… but he wasn’t my Dad. Even as an adult, this song still brings tears to my eyes.
Lyrics: I Don’t Call Him Daddy, performed by Doug Supernaw, Written by Reed Nielsen
It was six in the morning when I made the county line;
There’s someone I’ve got to talk to, can’t get it off my mind.
He is just a kid, and he’s in a pretty rough spot;
Two dimes to make a phone call, that’s about all I got.
How’s my boy today? I know it’s been three weeks;
But you know how far I’ve got to go these days to make ends meet.
How’s your mama now, with her new live-in friend?
Oh, how I hate the wounds that never seem to mend.
You said, “I don’t call him daddy, but he takes care of things.
When you pick me up on Friday, are you gonna bring me anything?
Oh, don’t worry Dad, you know, it don’t matter what we do;
Cause I don’t call him daddy, he can never be like you.”
God bless the little hearts, there the ones who really pay
When Mom and Dad can’t get along and they go their separate ways.
In a way I’m glad there’s someone there to fill the empty space;
Tears of understanding stream down a dirty face.
You said, “I don’t call him daddy, but he takes care of things.
When you pick me up on Friday, are you gonna bring me anything?
Oh, don’t worry Dad, you know, it don’t matter what we do;
Cause I don’t call him daddy, he can never be like you,
Be like you,
Be like you.
He is quite a little man growin’ up as fast as he can;
And I don’t get to see him half as much as I had planned.
There’s so much I need to tell him, so precious little time;
A little rain on the window, and a little wave… goodbye
You said, “I don’t call him daddy, but he takes care of things.
When you pick me up on Friday, are you gonna bring me anything?
Oh, don’t worry Dad, you know, it don’t matter what we do;
Cause I don’t call him daddy, he can never be like you.
He said, “I don’t call him daddy, but he takes care of things.
When you pick me up on Friday, are you gonna bring me anything?
Oh, don’t worry Dad, you know, it don’t matter what we do;
Cause I don’t call him daddy, he can never be like you.
That is one srsly gutt wrenching song…. I read the words to the song… i’m afraid to listen to it for fear I will burst out bawling… It is sooo true though… as a once upon a time ‘daddy’s little girl’ even tho he was never really around…. our father’s… it seems… are always the ones who hung the moon and stars when you are little …
Very true…
I never heard this song before. It brought out very strong emotions. I felt such anger towards my FX for all the hurt she has brought on our kids. Thank God my kids are older than the child in that video. I cried. Any true man would.
Agreed. It packs a pretty hefty impact for anyone in that situation.