My own Father was central to my life and just about the best a boy could have.."This song's for my Father" is about our relationship. This song, sung by a Father to his son and daughter, was written in reaction to the way Fathers seemed to be getting written out of the script of life, or , if they were written in it was as abusers or as feckless abandoners.I know many men like this Father and this song often caused a sly hand to steal to an eye and a whispered "thank you" as the audience left. My own vote goes to Steve Goodman and Dave Mallett.

I'm Here

If you ever feel you'd rather
Talk it over with your Father..I'm here
If you ever need that fiver
A chauffeur for a driver...I'm here
If you ever feel like thinking
aloud when choice is shrinking
and you'd like to talk whilst drinking a beer
I'll buy the pints and I'll listen, 'cause I'm here

If you need a cook-a-luncher
a rustle-up-a-bruncher..I'm here
If you need someone to hold on
when you've been knocked down and rolled on...I'm here
If you've ever been so lied to
by someone your love was tied to
I can tell you that I've cried too, King Lear
But I promise I won't joke, I won't jeer...I'm here

Yes I'm here because that's all I can be
I've raised you and I've praised you
now you're free
And my days go by so fast
I've less future and more past
And there'll come that day at last I'll disappear
There'll come that day at last I won't be here

So if you ever need a shoulder
when your warm world's getting colder..I'm here
If you ever need an old man
to talk sport with your new man...I'm here
If you ever feel like somedays
your life is rainy Sundays
and you only think of Mondays with fear
Three sixty five days a year...I'm here

And if you ever feel that maybe
you'd like to leave the baby..I'm here
If you need the family story
the mad, the bad, the gory...I'm here
if you need the why and wherefore
the this, the that, the therefore
if you need someone to care for and be near
If there's no one else around...I'm here