For my daughter, on National Daughter’s Day, September 25th, a tribute to her, and all daughters.  I won’t embarrass her with any photos of when she was younger or with any dumb dad jokes, but will express my overflowing and unending love for her, for she holds such a special place in my heart.

As is usual for my blogs, I have videos and a Spotify Playlist.  The lyrics and videos below are among my favorites, and express more than I ever could some of the feelings I have for my little girl.  Some highlights include a new song and video I just discovered, “Daddy Dance With Me” by Krystal Keith, Toby Keith’s daughter.  Another new song I absolutely love is by a friend of mine, Sean Forrest, with “Stay A Little Longer.”  Another great song and video are “Dance With My Daughter” by Jason Blaine.  And of course there’s “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder, “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle, “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman, “I Loved Her First” by Heartland, and “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts, and “Daddy’s Little Girl” by Al Martino, among others.

You’re Gonna Be

6 pounds and 9 ounces, lookin’ up at me
Like I have all the answers
I hope, I have the ones you need
I’ve never really done this, now I know what scared is

Sometimes, I’ll protect you from everything that’s wrong
Other times, I’ll let you just find out on your own
But that’s when you’ll be growin’
And the whole time I’ll be knowin’

You’re gonna fly with every dream you chase
You’re gonna cry but know that that’s okay
Sometimes life’s not fair but if you hang in there…

…I’m afraid you’ll have to suffer through
some of my mistakes
Lord, knows I’ll be trying, oh, to give you what it takes
What it takes to know the difference between getting by
and livin’

Cause anything worth doing is worth doing all the way
Just know you’ll have to live with all the choices
that you make
So make sure you’re always givin’ way more
than you’re takin’…

…You’re gonna see that sometimes bad is good
We just have to believe things work out like they should
Life has no guarantees, but always loved by me
You’re gonna be

Someone’s everything
You’re gonna see
Just what you are to me

You’re gonna fly with every dream you chase
We just have to believe things work out like they should
Life has no guarantees, but always loved by me
You’re gonna be, always loved by me…

reba mcentire

In My Daughter’s Eyes

In my daughter’s eyes
I am a hero
I am strong and wise
And I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I want to be
In my daughter’s eyes

In my daughter’s eyes
Everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light
And the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me
Gives me strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter’s eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger
How it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about
It’s hanging on when your heart is had enough
It’s giving more when you feel like giving up
I’ve seen the light
It’s in my daughter’s eyes

In my daughter’s eyes
I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
And though she’ll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I’m gone I hope you’ll see
How happy she made me
For I’ll be there
In my daughter’s eyes…

martina mcbride

Lady

…I can make you laugh ’til you cry
But she can make your tears dry, and
When you get your heart broke by the wrong guy
She can make it right

I hope you look just like your momma
And love her like I do
You’ll see close to perfect patience
If you watch her every move
You can always run to daddy
You’ll always be my baby, but
Look at her, baby girl
And you’ll learn how to be a lady…

brett young

I’ll Be Your Man

You’re gonna make the finest momma someday
Some man will take you away
But until then
Chase down your dreams
Laugh all the time and believe
That love’s gonna conquer all things
So until then
I’ll be your man

There was a time when I thought I knew love
Until you came into this world
Time keeps on flying
But your always gonna be my baby girl

So as you walk through this life you will see
The world’s what you want it to be
But until then
Go on and dance
Dance like there’s no one around
Never stop singing out loud
And until then
I’ll be your man…

…Go have a ball
Take every chance that you make
You know I’ll be one call away
I’ll always be
I’ll always be your man…

zac brown band

Stay A Little Longer

…Saw you coming down the stairs
Blue dress, a high school dance
Beautiful and free just like a dream
Once I held a baby girl
Now you’re taking on the world
You know I’m your biggest fan
And I always will be

Could you stay a little longer
Before the strike of midnight takes you
Off to your Prince Charming
But you’ll always be my daughter
It went too fast just like they say
Wish you could stay, stay a little longer

I knew this time would come
One day you’d be out on your own
And though my heart is aching
I know that it’s ok
I’ve got memories
And I love the ones you made

Work was piling up so high
Heavy on my mind
You took my hand
Said babe I’ve got to show you
An amazing sunset
And ou’re the one I want to see it with
Lets pour a glass of wine
And give thanks for all the good times

So lets stay a little longer
And remember all the things
That God has done
With so much wonder
Like the color that fade from the sky
Its flying by too fast just like they say
So lets stay, stay a little longer…

Sean Forrest

Butterfly Kisses

…She’ll change her name today
She’ll make a promise
And I’ll give her away
Standing in the bride-room
Just staring at her
She asked me what I’m thinking
And I said, “I’m not sure”
“I just feel like I’m losing my baby girl”
And she leaned over

Gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
“Walk me down the aisle, Daddy, it’s just about time”
“Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy?”
“Daddy, don’t cry”
Oh, with all that I’ve done wrong
I must have done something right
To deserve her love every morning
And butterfly kisses

I couldn’t ask God for more
Man, this is what love is
I know I gotta let her go
But I’ll always remember
Every hug in the morning
And butterfly kisses…

bob Carlisle

Cinderella

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I’m sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders
It’s been a long day and there’s still work to do
She’s pulling at me saying dad I need you
There’s a ball at the castle and I’ve been invited
And I need to practice my dancin’
Oh, please, daddy, please

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone…

Steven Curtis Chapman

Dance With My Daughter

…Greatest gift in the world
Is a new baby girl
Feels like God took a chance
Placing her here in my hands

Gonna dance with my daughter
Spin her around under the lights
‘Cause I’m just a father
Making the most of this moment in time
Before she lets me go, I’ll hold her close
Caught in this race against time
Right now all I want is to dance with my daughter tonight…

Jason Blaine

I Loved Her First

…I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she’d find you someday
But it’s still hard to give her away
I loved her first

How could that beautiful woman with you
Be the same freckle face kid that I knew
The one that I read all those fairytales to
And tucked into bed all those nights

And I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of time
I loved her first, I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me…

Heartland

Daddy Dance With Me

I know what you see when you look at me
As we walk down the aisle
Little pink tutu, bows and tennis shoes
In the wide eyes of your child
Those are all the memories you will cherish and you’ll carry
No matter how much time has come and gone

Daddy dance with me
I want you to see the woman I’ve become.
Daddy don’t let go
I want you to know I’ll always need your love.

Today I became his wife
But I’ll be your baby girl for life
Don’t know what to do when I look at you
Words can’t say enough
What you’ve done for me

You gave me what I need
You were tender, you were tough
Cause the world you built around me
Is the strength that will surround me
And protect me now that I am on my own…

Krystal Keith

Daddy’s Little Girl

…He always used to tell me, “Don’t grow up too fast
Love will come, love will go, your first won’t be your last”
I didn’t always listen when he gave me advice
No, I hate to admit it, but that man was always right

Used to wrap my hands around his little finger
Turns out he was wrapped around mine
He said, “You can be anything you want to
in this great big world”
But I’m always gonna be daddy’s little girl,
daddy’s little girl

When I count my blessings, I know where to start
He might not hold my hand no more
But he’ll always, always hold my heart…

The Shires

My Wish

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you’re faced with a choice, and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin’ ’till you find the window
If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile…

…I hope you never look back, but ya never forget
All the ones who love you, in the place you left
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get

Oh, you find God’s grace, in every mistake
And always give more than you take

But more than anything, yeah, more than anything
My wish, for you, is that this life
becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to
I hope you know somebody loves you,
and wants the same things too
Yeah, this, is my wish…

rascal flatts

My Father’s Daughter

I am my father’s daughter
I have his eyes
I am the product of his sacrifice
I am the accumulation of the dreams of generations
And their stories live in me like holy water
I am my father’s daughter…

…I am my father’s daughter
I have my Grandma’s eyes
I am the product of such sacrifice

jewel featuring dolly parton

Daddy’s Little Girl

You’re the treasure I cherish, so sparkling and bright
You were touched by the holy and beautiful light
Like angels that sing, a heavenly thing
And you’re daddy’s little girl

mills brothers

So on to my playlist, for my daughter, and daughters everywhere:

I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.

Live in the moment.

Enjoy the moment.

Love the moment.

Listen to the MUSIC!