In honor of Father’s Day, I give you 14 classic rock dad songs. I was blessed with a good dad. Not a perfect dad, but a very good dad and a much better dad to me than the dad he had. I think that’s how evolution works. We should always strive to be better parents, but the struggle can be very real.
Parenting is tough, but the rewards are infinite. Before we get to dad, first, of course, we need to discuss mom. There are a ton of fun “mom” songs. Whether you’re keepin’ time with “Mama Kin” or just letting her know that “Momma I’m Coming Home,” there are a lot of emotionally connected and/or fun songs for Mom.
Then there’s Dad… What about classic rock dad songs? Phhheewww… it’s a rougher roll for Dad. The first song most people think of for Dad is “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”
Did you Know “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” Is a Cover?
Another cover song. No big surprise there. It was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Undisputed Truth for their album, Law of the Land. The album peaked at #62. (from americansongwriter.com)
The Temptations recorded it later that same year (1972) and it was an insanely big smash for them. It not only hit #1, but The Temptations also won 3 Grammys for the song. Here’s the original by Undisputed Truth:
Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
While it totally counts in the category of classic rock dad songs, “it’s “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” is not exactly showcasing Dad’s merits. Having said that, there are some truly magnificent dads in this world. Before we get to them, enjoy a picture of a little rock star with his dad and mom… Know who he is? See the caption below for the answer.

Dads Who Rock
On Father’s Day, we celebrate those dads making a difference. One of my Power Lunch listeners, Andy, is an example of a magnificent dad. He lost his wife about ten years ago and has raised his daughter, Helena, on his own. Andy’s daughter recently graduated high school and attended prom. Andy told me how proud he is of her.
The struggle must have been real for Andy and Helena. Losing a parent early in life is so hard for the child, but it’s also difficult for the parent. They’re morning the loss of their partner while having to keep it together and support their child in their time of grief. Hearing the pride in Andy’s voice when he speaks of Helena is a wonderful thing.
Whether the following songs celebrate the father and child bond or work more as a cautionary tale, here are some classic rock Dad songs.
I also found some pretty sweet Dad Joke T-Shirts, if you want to check those bad boys out, CLICK HERE. Please join me for Over Easy on Father’s Day. I dug up every dad-related song that I felt made sense for the vibe of Over Easy. Here’s to our wonderful dads!