Black Music Sunday: Celebrating Father's Day and Juneteenth
Today’s installment of Black Music Sunday celebrates Father’s Day, including granddads, stepdads, uncles, and all the men who helped raise and mentor us. The month of June is also chock-full of other celebrations including Black Music Month and Caribbean-American Heritage Month. This is also the week we celebrate Juneteenth, as well as the summer solstice. Many music genres have provided a soundtrack for all of these events, and especially Father’s Day. Songs that celebrate dads are poignant, joyous, tender, uplifting, raucous, and nostalgic. Join me in listening to and sharing some of them here today. RELATED STORY: Soul food, summer sun, and family reunion tunes for Father's Day ”Black Music Sunday” is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music, with over 200 stories covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new. Far too often, we read negative stories and sociological treatises dismissing Black fathers as absent and uncaring. Fatherhood is complex, especially when it relates to Black fatherhood. The songs I’ve selected to share here today are directly related to Black dads, their Black children, and families. One of the most beloved R&B soul artists of all time is Luther Vandross, who passed on in 2005. But he is still “fathering” young people via his foundation, established by his mother in his memory, which provides financial assistance to students who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities, known as HBCUs. His memories of his father, who died when Vandross was 8 years old, were captured by Vandross and Richard Marx in his 2003 song “Dance With My Father.” “Dance With My Father” lyrics: Back when I was a child Before life removed all the innocence My father would lift me high And dance with my mother and me And then Spin me around 'till I fell asleep Then up the stairs he would carry me And I knew for sure I was loved If I could get another chance Another walk Another dance with him I'd play a song that would never ever end How I'd love love love To dance with my father again When I and my mother Would disagree To get my way I would run From her to him He'd make me laugh just to comfort me Yeah yeah Then finally make me do Just what my mama said Later that night when I was asleep He left a dollar under my sheet Never dreamed that he Would be gone from me If I could steal one final glance One final step One final dance with him I'd play a song that would never ever end 'Cause I'd love love love to Dance with my father again Sometimes I'd listen outside her door And I'd hear how mama would cry for him I'd pray for her even more than me I'd pray for her even more than me I know I'm praying for much too much But could you send her The only man she loved I know you don't do it usually But Dear Lord She's dying to dance with my father again Every night I fall asleep And this is all I ever dream YouTube Video “I’m Her Daddy,” by singer-songwriter Bill Withers, who joined the ancestors in April 2020, is a poignant plea from a father asking about a daughter he didn’t get to know: How do you do, Lucy? You sure been hard to find. I heard you had a daughter Six years old and I just can’t keep from cry’n’. Six years Lucy, Lord have mercy, That’s a long time, that’s a long time. Is she pretty, has she grown? Does she sleep well in a room of her own? Can I see her? Does she know that I’m her daddy, I’m her daddy? Did you give her one of my pictures? Does she carry yeh, yeh, picture with her? Does she show it to the baby sitter, and say, “See that man, that’s my daddy, that’s my daddy?” You should ‘a told me, Lucy, You should ‘a told me, Lucy, Yeh, you should ‘a told me, Lucy. Oh, Lucy. Oh, Lucy. Oh, Lucy. Oh, Lucy. You should ‘a told me Lucy. YouTube Video I’ve written about Oscar Brown Jr., a political singer-poet-songwriter, here in the past. His lullaby “Brown Baby” is an anthem filled with love and hope for the future. His website notes: Oscar Brown, Jr’s composition Brown Baby is simultaneously released by Mahalia Jackson, who was also a Columbia label Artist at the time. OBJ was inspired by the birth of his first son, yet this song wishes prosperity, peace, and pride upon all brown babies. Brown Baby became an anthem. It was later recorded by Nina Simone, Lena Horne, Diana Ross, and Toni Braxton. Here are the lyrics to “Brown Baby”: Brown baby brown baby As you grow up I want you to drink from the plenty cup I want you to stand up tall and proud And I want you to speak up clear and loud Brown baby brown baby brown baby As years go by I want you to go with your head up high I want you to live by the justice code And I want you to walk down freedom's road You little brown baby So lie away lie away sleeping lie away singing Lie away sleeping lie away sa
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Today’s installment of Black Music Sunday celebrates Father’s Day, including granddads, stepdads, uncles, and all the men who helped raise and mentor us. The month of June is also chock-full of other celebrations including Black Music Month and Caribbean-American Heritage Month. This is also the week we celebrate Juneteenth, as well as the summer solstice.
Many music genres have provided a soundtrack for all of these events, and especially Father’s Day. Songs that celebrate dads are poignant, joyous, tender, uplifting, raucous, and nostalgic. Join me in listening to and sharing some of them here today.
RELATED STORY: Soul food, summer sun, and family reunion tunes for Father's Day
”Black Music Sunday” is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music, with over 200 stories covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new.
Far too often, we read negative stories and sociological treatises dismissing Black fathers as absent and uncaring. Fatherhood is complex, especially when it relates to Black fatherhood. The songs I’ve selected to share here today are directly related to Black dads, their Black children, and families.
One of the most beloved R&B soul artists of all time is Luther Vandross, who passed on in 2005. But he is still “fathering” young people via his foundation, established by his mother in his memory, which provides financial assistance to students who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities, known as HBCUs.
His memories of his father, who died when Vandross was 8 years old, were captured by Vandross and Richard Marx in his 2003 song “Dance With My Father.”
“Dance With My Father” lyrics:
Back when I was a child Before life removed all the innocence My father would lift me high And dance with my mother and me And then Spin me around 'till I fell asleep Then up the stairs he would carry me And I knew for sure I was loved If I could get another chance Another walk Another dance with him I'd play a song that would never ever end How I'd love love love To dance with my father again When I and my mother Would disagree To get my way I would run From her to him He'd make me laugh just to comfort me Yeah yeah Then finally make me do Just what my mama said Later that night when I was asleep He left a dollar under my sheet Never dreamed that he Would be gone from me If I could steal one final glance One final step One final dance with him I'd play a song that would never ever end 'Cause I'd love love love to Dance with my father again Sometimes I'd listen outside her door And I'd hear how mama would cry for him I'd pray for her even more than me I'd pray for her even more than me I know I'm praying for much too much But could you send her The only man she loved I know you don't do it usually But Dear Lord She's dying to dance with my father again Every night I fall asleep And this is all I ever dream
“I’m Her Daddy,” by singer-songwriter Bill Withers, who joined the ancestors in April 2020, is a poignant plea from a father asking about a daughter he didn’t get to know:
How do you do, Lucy? You sure been hard to find. I heard you had a daughter Six years old and I just can’t keep from cry’n’.
Six years Lucy, Lord have mercy, That’s a long time, that’s a long time. Is she pretty, has she grown? Does she sleep well in a room of her own? Can I see her? Does she know that I’m her daddy, I’m her daddy? Did you give her one of my pictures? Does she carry yeh, yeh, picture with her? Does she show it to the baby sitter, and say, “See that man, that’s my daddy, that’s my daddy?” You should ‘a told me, Lucy, You should ‘a told me, Lucy, Yeh, you should ‘a told me, Lucy.
Oh, Lucy. Oh, Lucy. Oh, Lucy. Oh, Lucy. You should ‘a told me Lucy.
I’ve written about Oscar Brown Jr., a political singer-poet-songwriter, here in the past. His lullaby “Brown Baby” is an anthem filled with love and hope for the future.
Oscar Brown, Jr’s composition Brown Baby is simultaneously released by Mahalia Jackson, who was also a Columbia label Artist at the time. OBJ was inspired by the birth of his first son, yet this song wishes prosperity, peace, and pride upon all brown babies. Brown Baby became an anthem. It was later recorded by Nina Simone, Lena Horne, Diana Ross, and Toni Braxton.
Here are the lyrics to “Brown Baby”:
Brown baby brown baby As you grow up I want you to drink from the plenty cup I want you to stand up tall and proud And I want you to speak up clear and loud Brown baby brown baby brown baby As years go by I want you to go with your head up high I want you to live by the justice code And I want you to walk down freedom's road You little brown baby So lie away lie away sleeping lie away singing Lie away sleeping lie away safe in my arms Till your daddy and you mama protect you? and keep you safe from harm Brown baby It makes me glad you gonna have things that I never had When out of men's heart all hate is hurled Sweetie you gonna live in a better world Brown baby brown baby brown baby
I smiled when I saw this post from Brother Mark Anthony Neal on X, formerly Twitter.
Philadelphia soul artist Billy Paul Williams also recorded his own song titled “Brown Baby,” imploring:
Brown baby, you gotta make your father proud Make him proud Brown baby Stand tall Keep on getting up Brown baby I gotta tell it like it is, I ain't telling no lies You gotta love your brother and brothers Sisters, love your brother And don't kick him when he's down Stick together I'm gonna tell you everybody It's the truth, open up your mind And try to concentrate Make your people proud Brown baby
Poet and singer Gil Scott-Heron wrote and recorded this love song to his daughter Gia Louise Heron, who is continuing his legacy.
"Your Daddy Loves You (For Gia Louise)":
Now sweet lil ol' brown eyed girl, hey, now Now that you're sleepin' I've got a confession to make Of secrets that I've been keepin' Me and your mama had some problems, A whole lotta things on our minds But lately, girl, we've been thinkin' that we were wastin' time Nearly all the time, and Your daddy loves you Your daddy loves his girl Your daddy loves you Your daddy loves his girl, hey now Now sweet lil ol' chocolate girl Now that you're sleepin' I feel braver I've got a confession to make I'll sneak it in while you're dreamin' Me and your mama had some troubles There's been a whole lotta things on our minds But lately when we look at you, we know that we've been wastin' time Damn near all the time, and Your daddy loves you Your daddy loves his girl, hey, now Said your daddy loves you Said your daddy loves his girl, hey, now Your daddy loves you, and your mama, too Your daddy loves his girl Loves his girl Loves his girl
As we head into Juneteenth gatherings and celebrations, I thought of the perfect song to close with today: “Family Reunion,” by Philly soul group The O’Jays, which was recorded and released in 1975.
Though the lyrics describe traditional gendered roles, I like the way they close:
It don't, it don't just stop there with the family or Of yours or mine It's a universal family Under one divine purpose And one divine father
That is if we all come together no matter what color, race, creed Because that's all in the head whether you wanna believe it or not [...] Family, family reunion It'll be nice, so nice, so nice
RELATED STORY: Juneteenth is a new holiday for many Americans. For my family, it's always been personal
Join me in the comments section below for lots more, and please post the songs you love—not just for Father’s Day, but for all the special days we’re celebrating this month. Campaign Action
