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Let’s face it, the older we get, the harder it is to think of good Father’s Day gifts for our dads. Doing bad drawings on cheap ties with puffy paint isn’t going to cut it anymore. Plus, is it just me, or do dads just not want anything other than maybe some mulch or lighter fluid for the grill? This struggle is why we’ve compiled this list of Dad Rock songs that you can share with your father figure this Father’s Day.

But what exactly is, “Dad Rock?” This is a valid question that is difficult to answer. The easiest definition is that they’re songs you have heard on the classic or soft rock radio station that your dad has nodded his head along to. Some of them are songs that were popular when they were young, long before they were dads. Some are just songs that would make a great backdrop to a Father’s Day barbecue. Quite simply, Dad Rock songs just give off a “dad” vibe.

Whether it’s your biological father, stepfather, foster father, grandfather, or uncle, this list is sure to strike a power chord with the male influence in your life.

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It should be noted that most of these songs that I picked and subsequent jokes that I have written are based on my personal experience with the patriarchs in my own family. However, when I sent this list to my dad, he replied, verbatim, “Those are all some good songs!” So, I think I’ve nailed it.

Top Dad Rock Songs (in no particular order)

1. “Roll to Me” – Del Amitri 

You know it’s summertime when this song is on every radio station. It is insufferably catchy and a perfect song to mow the lawn to at 6 am on a Saturday before it rains.

2. “Falling for the First Time” – Barenaked Ladies

Another insanely catchy tune. The Canadian rock group has a ton of good, dad-approved songs, but there is something about the clever lyrics that feel like one long dad joke, particularly in this verse:

“I’m so chill no wonder it’s freezing
I’m so still I just can’t keep my fingers out of anything
I’m so thrilled to finally be failing
I’m so done, turn me over cause it feels just like I’m falling for the first time”

3 & 4. “Long as I Can See the Light” and “Down on the Corner” – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Originally, I was only putting “Down on The Corner” on this list because it’s another incredible summertime song to blast on the FM radio and build a deck to.

However, Creedence Clearwater Revival is such a dad band that earlier this week they shared a fan-made music video to their song, “Long as I Can See the Light.” According to Rolling Stone:

“Directed by Laurence Jacobs and Kay Anderson, the clip was conceived with Father’s Day (June 21st) in mind. At the end of last month, Creedence put out a call to fans on social media asking them to submit photos and videos capturing memories with fathers, grandfathers and other ‘guiding lights in their life.'”

5. “Crash Into Me” – Dave Matthews Band

The South African singer seems particularly popular with dads due to some of his songs being a little more upbeat and some of them being a little more laid back. “Crash Into Me” is more for the dad that is done working in the yard for the day and will be sitting on the deck he built drinking a beer.

Dad Rock Songs
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6. “Carry On My Wayward Son” – Kansas

This song certainly puts the “rock” in Dad Rock songs. With its guitar solos and easy-to-sing-to lyrics, any dad could be caught bopping his head to as it plays over the speakers at Home Depot. Plus, it even mentions, “my wayward son” implying that the speaker in the song is in fact, a dad.

In recent years, a lot of folks have begun to associate the song with the show Supernatural, since it kicks off the start of every season during the recap of the season before. It’s ironic because one of the major plot points is that the characters on that show have sort of a strained relationship with their dad.

7. “Too Much Time on My Hands” – Styx

Styx has some very good jams. “Renegade”? It’s a badass classic. “Mr. Roboto”? As a culture, we all know that one! But the reason “Too Much Time on My Hands” is on this list, is that it’s the most “Dad” Styx song. It’s catchy, easy to sing along to, and has some clapping that your dad will not do on time.

“Yeah, I’m sitting on this barstool, talking like a damn fool
Got the twelve o’clock news blues
And I’ve given up hope for the afternoon soaps
And a bottle of cold brew”

I feel like a lot of dads pretend to be more curmudgeonly than they actually are. I think this song really appeals to that side of them.

ENTITY Mag shares a gif of Grumpy to represent dads listening to dad rock songs.
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8. “Hip to be Square” – Huey Lewis and the News

The first time I heard about this song was shortly after jokingly calling my own father a “square” (he probably deserved it and he knows that) so of course, he responded, “well, you know it’s hip to be square.” I said, “well that’s nothing” and he goes, “no that’s a song by Huey Louis and the News” and I was like “who?

I would argue that most of our dads are aware that they aren’t cool anymore. At least, not as long as you’ve known them. This song gives them hope. Even though no one says, “hip” or “square” anymore.

What’s more, Rachel Bloom modeled a song from her hit TV series, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” on “Hip To Be Square.” It was a coming out song called, “Getting Bi” about one character’s bisexual awakening. What’s more, this character is a father figure not just to his own daughter, but to the other characters on the show. Even the parody of this classic Huey Lewis song is 100% Dad Certified.

ENTITY Mag shares a gif of Homer Simpson singing dad rock songs.
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9. “Baba O’Reily” – The Who

I’m sure at some point, your dad has informed you that this song is not called, “Teenage Wasteland.”

10. “Smoke on the Water” – Deep Purple

If your dad has ever tried to teach himself guitar, he probably knows this song. It’s one of the easiest riffs to play, and simply repeats throughout the whole song. It’s a track that can make any father feel like a rock star.

11. “Blinded by the Light” – Bruce Springsteen

The way I see it, there are two types of dads. The ones that mumble most of the words to this song because they truly don’t know them, or the dads that do know all the words somehow.

Bruce Springsteen is the “Father” of Dad Rock. Dads just love The Boss for some reason. In fact, dads are the only people that actually call Springsteen “The Boss” without a hint of irony.

It was hard to pinpoint the exact perfect Springsteen song to put on this list. But with the song’s catchiness, mixed with the way dads sing along to it, it needed to be included.

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12. “Piano Man” – Billy Joel

Are dads just born knowing the lyrics to this song? I feel like they must be, because if this song starts up, dads go into a trance for the subsequent five minutes and 41 seconds where these are the only words that matter.

13. “Take it Easy” – The Eagles

This is probably exactly what your dad wants on Father’s Day if we’re honest. He can listen to this track in a hammock, on the spot on the couch that has his imprint, or in his Dad Recliner™. When you catch him lightly snoring, he will inform you that he was, “resting his eyelids” or “testing the pillows.”

ENTITY Mag shares a gif of what your dad wants for father's day.
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14. “More Than a Feeling” – Boston

When I took guitar lessons, my teacher told me that he has played this song at almost every wedding his band has been hired to play at. He went on to say that even weddings with a DJ will absolutely still have this song somewhere on their playlist.

Why am I talking about wedding songs in the middle of this Dad Rock songs list?

Because no matter what, dads love to dance badly at weddings. Even if your dad miraculously is a professional dancer, if he’s at a wedding, he has no moves for some reason.

Whether he hears this song at a family function or in the car on the way to the airport 5 hours early, the crunchy guitar riff and the easily-belted-out lyrics will have you saying, “dad no, what are you doing, dad stop-

ENTITY Mag is sorry about sharing this image of a dad dancing.
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15. “I Won’t Back Down” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

“No I won’t. Back. Down.” Your dad mutters as he types a text using only an index finger or insists he doesn’t need the GPS to get somewhere. If there’s one thing dads hate – it’s admitting they’re wrong about anything ever.

16. “Sharp-Dressed Man” – ZZ Top

There is a hilarious irony about dads singing along to this song. It is that they will most likely be doing so while wearing a plain white t-shirt, jean shorts (aka jorts), and sneakers with socks pulled all the way up for some reason.

ENTITY Mag shares a collage made by their editor Maria Rotelli
Image by Maria Rotelli

17. “Run-Around” – Blues Traveler 

If the band has “Blues” in the title like Blues Traveler or Moody Blues, they’re a Dad Rock band.

There is something very summer pool party about the catchy chorus of this song and that killer harmonica solo. Like other songs mentioned, the lyrics are also just so full of cleverly-crafted jokes that could have only been thought of by dads:

“Like a game show contestant with a parting gift
I could not believe my eyes”

18. “Smooth” – Santana and Rob Thomas

Dads love sweet guitar licks and wailing solos. Perhaps it appeals to when they were young and that was what was considered badass. That’s why dads love Carlos Santana. This song is a perfect summer sizzle and has been since 1999. Its highly-memed opening lyric even sounds like a very dad-like sentiment, “Man, it’s a hot one…”

19. “Jack and Diane” – John Cougar Mellencamp

This is another song with an instantly recognizable riff. Even if your dad doesn’t know the words to this song (he does, but we’ll pretend like he doesn’t) he will absolutely be able to tap his thumbs on the steering wheel, counter, or whatever surface is nearby.

ENTITY Mag celebrates Father's Day with Dad Rock songs
Image via Unsplash/@timmossholder

A dad can be many things. It does not necessarily need to be the man who provided your DNA. But, no matter his age, race, sexual orientation, there are many universal truths that come along with fatherhood. He tells awful jokes. He sneezes loud enough to scare away predators from his young. He will remind you that “you don’t pay rent around here,” so don’t you dare touch the thermostat.

A dad is someone who teaches your things, embarrasses you, and is there for you through the tough times. From all of us here at ENTITY, Happy Father’s Day to all the incredible dads who have raised strong women.

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