With Valentines Day fast approaching we thought we’d jump on the love train, but with a topic that isn’t so cliché and overdone – the father/daughter wedding dance!
Our wedding bands are often asked to perform special requests at weddings. These don’t only include the first dance, they also often include the second dance between the bride and her father.
Traditionally this dance came first in proceedings as the father of the bride would dance with his daughter ‘one last time’ before she starts her new life, then moving on to dance with her new husband. Today this tradition has reversed and the bride and groom usually open with the ‘first dance’.
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Although the groom might get the first spin around the dance floor, lots of couples love the idea of including the father and daughter dance – and it’s guaranteed to create a very moving moment and leave few dry eyes in the house.
You might already have that special song that you know is the one you want to dance to with your father or father figure, but if you’re still on the prowl, we thought we’d help you out and celebrate the relationship between the bride and the first man she ever loved by providing a list of the top 20 father and daughter dance songs. These will hopefully provide inspiration for your very own day!
Enjoy!
The Top 19 Father & Daughter Dance Songs
1. When You Need Me – Bruce Springsteen
When You Need Me is a lovely pop rock ballad by Bruce Springsteen with the underlying theme being that he’ll always be there for you. Simple as that.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“I’ll be there to guide you when, trouble walks beside you, of you need me I’ll be there, and when those mean days come along, we’ll stand together and we’ll take ’em on.”
2. Gracie – Ben Folds
Ben Folds, the fantastic singing pianist, describes his love for his daughter in this lovely pop ballad. It’s a more modern choice, but still a timeless one.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“And you will always have a part of me, nobody else is ever going to see, one day you’re gonna want to go, I hope we taught you everything you need to know”
3. My Darling – Wilco
My Darling from Wilco’s third album, Summerteeth, is a lovely rock ballad talking about his family life.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“Because we made you, my darlin, with the love in each of our hearts, we were a family, my darlin, right from the start”
4. Daughters – John Mayer
Highly praised blues-influenced singer/songwriter John Mayer sings a song about his daughter that we think fits the sentiment of a father and daughter dance perfectly.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“Fathers, be good to your daughters, daughters will love like you do, girls become lovers who turn into mothers, so mothers, be good to your daughters too”
5. My Girl – The Temptations
This Temptations classic is a huge hit at Weddings, as both First Dances but also Father and Daughter dances:
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it’s cold outside I’ve got the month of May. I guess you’d say, what can make me feel this way? My girl”
6. When You Say Nothing At All – Alison Krauss
This classic song by Alison Krauss (later covered by Ronan Keating) talks about a parent’s love:
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“Try as I may I could never explain, what I hear when you don’t say a thing. The smile on your face let’s me know that you need me”
7. Kind And Generous – Natalie Merchant
This lovely pop tune has a really happy vibe and could certainly be a contender to get your guests bopping along with you.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“I want to thank you, for your generosity, the love and the honesty, that you gave me”
8. Father & Daughter – Paul Simon
Iconic artist Paul Simon sings about the relationship between a father and daughter in this lovely song:
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“Gonna paint a sign, so you’ll always know, as long as one and one is two, there could never be a father, who loved his daughter more than I love you”
9. Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
Who doesn’t love Stevie? The beautifully crafted lyrics and happy feel should make this a serious contender.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“I never thought through love we’d be, making one as lovely as she, but Isn’t she lovely, made from love”
10. Stand By Me – Ben E King
The late Ben E King wrote this classic and is a huge hit for slow dances at Weddings. Is this the one for you?
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“No I won’t be afraid, oh, I won’t be afraid, just as long as you stand, stand by me”
11. I Loved Her First – Heartland
I loved her first is a country rock inspired song by Heartland, written from a father to his daughter’s new husband.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“And she still means the world to me, just so you know, so be careful when you hold my girl. From the first breath she breathed, when she first smiled at me, I knew the love of a father runs deep”
12. My Little Girl – Tim McGraw
US country artist Tim McGraw shares his experiences with his daughter in this lovely classic.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“You’re beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that’ll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world, but to me you know you’ll always be, my little girl.”
13. Sweet Child O Mine – Guns N Roses
This huge Rock anthem could be the one for you if you don’t want a ‘slow and sentimental dance’ but would rather get your party rocking from the off!
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“She’s got eyes of the bluest skies, as if they thought of rain. I’d hate to look into those eyes, and see an ounce of pain”
14. The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra the ratpack legend sings about a loved one in this classy big band number.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“Some day, when I’m awfully low, when the world is cold. I will feel a glow just thinking of you, and the way you look tonight”
15. Just The Way You Are – Billy Joel
What a tune! Billy Joel refers to loving someone just the way they are. Could this be the one for you? It would be ours 🙂
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“I would not leave you in times of trouble, we never could have come this far. I took the good times, I’ll take the bad times, I’ll take you just the way you are”
16. Dance With My Father – Luther Vandross
Soulful Luther Vandross reminisces about his childhood and how he knew he was loved in this lovely song.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“My father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then, spin me around ‘til I fell asleep, then up the stairs he would carry me, and I knew for sure I was loved”
17. You Are My Sunshine – Johnny Cash
This old school track also performed by Johnny Cash has a really well known and iconic melody, for your guests to join in with!
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away”
18. Make You Feel My Love – Adele
Adele is the 20th Centuries biggest female pop singer. You can’t go wrong with this beautiful love song.
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“When the evening shadows and the stars appear, and there is no one there to dry your tears, I could hold you for a million years, to make you feel my love.”
19. You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
Joe Cockers’ You Are So Beautiful could be used as either your First Dance or Father Daughter dance. Either way, it’s a lovely song!
Our Favourite Lyrics:
“You are so beautiful, to me. You are so beautiful, to me, can’t you see”
Do you have a favourite father and daughter dance song? We’d love to hear it! Give us a follow on Facebook and let us know!
