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jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 09:53 AM

My daughter is getting married 11 Nov. I haven't always been there as a dad (emotionally) and didn't always attend her school activities like I should have. I want to express how sorry I am and that I still loved her throughout those days. Now that she has given us a beautiful granddaughter, I want to explain how she will give me a chance of becoming a better father by being a great grandfather. Any help would be appreciated.

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 10:04 AM

Rather than pay someone to write a song (yes, pay! Writing songs is a profitable occupation), it would be worth your while to find a song that is already written with both words and music.

The first one I thought of was "Cat's In the Cradle" by Harry Chapin. It's written by a father to his son, but would be easy enough to change the words for a daughter and even include your new granddaughter in there somewhere. Of course, you don't have to use all the ideas in the song or make it as long, and you'd use the same music, if you sing it to her. Here is the original (public libraries will have the song on a CD so you can hear it):

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 10:54 AM

Thank You so much... I think I will use that and try and change the words a little.

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 11:00 AM

Holler if you need help with that. (I've already changed the words mentally for your situation.)

jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 11:17 AM

I have started it also... kind of have something real rough so far... I am not a very good writer, and this is pretty important to me. I would love some help if you are game

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 11:20 AM

I'm going to eat lunch, but will be back in a half hour or so to work on this. Stay tuned and check back!

jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 11:30 AM

Here is what I started. A little background. I am a retired USAF aircrew member. I was gone a lot. When I was home I wasn't always there for her or her brother. I sometimes had excuses for not attending her school activities. I know... pretty bad. Now she is 28, getting married, and she had a baby girl in January. The big surprise of that, no one knew she was even pregnant; not even her. Ever since that day I have dedicated myself to be there for my granddaughter (or any other grand kids that appear) better than I was there as a dad. So I figured I could change the words to a father-daughter wedding song, have a friend here sing the words to the music and put it on a CD. I will surprise everyone with the CD when its time to dance to the song.

I tried to attach what I had so far, but not sure if it worked. You are a special person if you can help me with this.

jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 11:47 AM

Here is what I have come up so far as first rough draft

My child arrived just the other day
She came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
She learned to walk while I was away
And she was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as she grew
She'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then girl
You know we'll have a good time then

My daughter turned ten just the other day
She said, "have a dance recital today, Dad, come on let's go
Can you tape my recital dad", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", she said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but her smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then girl
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, she came home from college just the other day
So much like a woman I just had to say
"Girl, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
She shook her head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home girl?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then girl
You know we'll have a good time then

One mid-January day, a nice little surprised appeared
She came into the world in an unusual way
But there are no planes to catch, and minimal bills to pay
If you can find the time girl, I would like to see
What I missed before while you were small
You have given me the chance, girl
Being more a granddad then I was as a dad

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
She has forgiven me as a dad
My girl is better than me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then girl
You know we'll have a good time then

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 12:07 PM

My revised version:

My child arrived just the other day
She came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
She learned to walk while I was away
And she was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as she grew
She'd say "I'm gonna be like you, Dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little girl pink and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then, girl
You know we'll have a good time then

My girl turned ten just the other day
She said, "Thanks for the doll, Dad, come on let's play
Will you play 'school' with us", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", she said, "That's ok"
And she walked away but her smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little girl pink and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, Dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then, girl
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, she came home with a baby just the other day
So much like a mom I just had to say
"Girl, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
She nodded her head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is for you to hold her
See if you like her, gotta get to know her grandpop"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little girl pink and the man on the moon
When you comin' back, girl?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then, Dad
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since slowed down, my girl's had a girl
I called her up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
She said, "I'd love to, Dad, and I'll find the time
This baby's a challenge and I'm worn out
And it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
She's grown up but not like me
My girl knows how to share and show love

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little girl pink and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, girl?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then, Dad
You know we'll have a good time then

jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 12:10 PM

I like this... thank you very much

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 12:12 PM

You did a great job with rewriting it. I played Chapin on YouTube to try to get the rhythm as I changed words for my version. Read through what I wrote, and see if anything works for you. Your version is really good, though.

jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 12:14 PM

I like yours, but I also like some of the things that I wrote. But yours goes so much better with the music. I might try and take some of your ideas and incorporate mine better with the music... again Thanks so much

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 12:18 PM

This part (of mine) --

She nodded her head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is for you to hold her
See if you like her, gotta get to know her grandpop"

Is a little wobbly. Feel free to use whatever you want. Again, yours is really good too. It's a pretty free-floating song with singing the words -- just have to get the rhythm and squeeze in words now and then as you sing.

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 12:19 PM

Maybe you and I should offer to rewrite songs for new artists...

jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 12:23 PM

A friend has offered to play her guitar and sing the song for me

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 12:24 PM

Wish I could be there!

jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 12:42 PM

I am nervous already and it is still a month away.

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 12:49 PM

You sound like you are doing your best to make up for lost time. That little baby has you in her life now, so she is very lucky!

jimc62 · Oct 4, 2011, 01:02 PM

Pretty much wrapped around my finger. She was born 6 January

Wondergirl · Oct 4, 2011, 01:11 PM

Awwww, she's moving into the "little human" stage now where she becomes a person in her own right with the beginning of talking and figuring things out and walking and becoming independent. My friend's first grandchild is 18 months old and is taking the world by storm! He want to know about everything!

Many dads are too busy working and paying the bills, whereas Mom is the one involved with the kids. Only later, when dads become grandpas do you see them mellow out, since they have more time to devote to little ones.