We read the seven father-daughter dance lists that rank highest on Google. Every one of them recommends at least one love song, and at least 9 of the 36 songs that show up on three or more lists are about a girlfriend, a wife, a son or a loss.
So we checked every song before it went on our list: who it's written to, what it's really about, how long it runs and where your DJ can fade it. Pick the moment you want, jump to a style, and copy a note for your DJ from any song.
The most popular father-daughter dance songs, counted
We counted how many of the seven top-ranking lists recommend each song. Here are the 15 they recommend most, and whether each one fits a dance with Dad.
The most-listed song that's really about a daughter is Father and Daughter by Paul Simon, on six of the seven lists.
- 1 Father and Daughter Paul Simon 6 of 7 lists Fits
- 2 My Girl The Temptations 6 of 7 lists Love song
- 3 Sweet Pea Amos Lee 6 of 7 lists Fits
- 4 Daddy Beyoncé 5 of 7 lists Fits
- 5 Daughter Loudon Wainwright III 5 of 7 lists Fits
- 6 Landslide Fleetwood Mac 5 of 7 lists Fits
- 7 My Little Girl Tim McGraw 5 of 7 lists Fits
- 8 One Call Away Charlie Puth 5 of 7 lists Fits
- 9 Sweet Child O' Mine Guns N' Roses 5 of 7 lists Love song
- 10 Unforgettable Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole 5 of 7 lists Love song
- 11 Wind Beneath My Wings Bette Midler 5 of 7 lists Fits
- 12 Because You Loved Me Céline Dion 4 of 7 lists Fits
- 13 Butterfly Fly Away Miley Cyrus & Billy Ray Cyrus 4 of 7 lists Fits
- 14 Butterfly Kisses Bob Carlisle 4 of 7 lists Fits
- 15 Count on Me Bruno Mars 4 of 7 lists Fits
Popular picks that are really love songs
Every one of the top lists recommends at least one love song. These show up again and again, but the lyrics are about a girlfriend, a wife, a son or a loss. If you'd rather not dance with Dad to a love song, each one has a swap with the same feel.
Love song
My Girl
The Temptations · on 6 of 7 top lists
Smokey Robinson wrote it about his wife, Claudette, so it's a love song, even though the words stay sweet. Source
Try instead: Daddy's Little Girl The Mills Brothers
Love song
Sweet Child O' Mine
Guns N' Roses · on 5 of 7 top lists
Axl Rose wrote it about his girlfriend, Erin Everly, calling it his first positive love song. Source
Try instead: Forever Young Rod Stewart
Love song
Unforgettable
Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole · on 5 of 7 top lists
It's a 1951 love song; it's popular because Natalie Cole recorded it as a duet with her late father. Source
Try instead: Daddy's Little Girl The Mills Brothers
Doesn't fit
Daughters
John Mayer · on 4 of 7 top lists
Mayer has said he wrote it about an ex-girlfriend whose absent father left her with trust issues; it's a warning to dads. Source
Try instead: Gracie Ben Folds
Love song
The Way You Look Tonight
Frank Sinatra · on 4 of 7 top lists
Written for the film Swing Time, where Fred Astaire sings it to Ginger Rogers; it's a courtship song. Source
Try instead: Moon River Andy Williams
Love song
God Only Knows
The Beach Boys · on 3 of 7 top lists
Brian Wilson and Tony Asher wrote it as a love song to a partner. Source
Try instead: Here Comes the Sun The Beatles
About his wife
You're My Best Friend
Queen · on 3 of 7 top lists
John Deacon wrote it for his wife, Veronica. Source
Try instead: Thank You for Being a Friend Andrew Gold
Grief song
Dance with My Father
Luther Vandross · on 3 of 7 top lists
Vandross wrote it about his father, who died when Luther was eight; it longs for one more dance. Source
Try instead: Daddy Beyoncé
Love song
Ain't That Love
Ray Charles · on 3 of 7 top lists
A 1957 R&B love song Charles sings to a sweetheart, pledging to share her moods and stand by her. Source
Try instead: Lean on Me Bill Withers
Show 18 more picks that don't fit
Love song
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Stevie Wonder · on 2 of 7 top lists
It's a love song; Songfacts notes Wonder wrote it while married to singer Syreeta Wright. Source
Try instead: Isn't She Lovely Stevie Wonder
Love song
Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison · on 2 of 7 top lists
It looks back on a teenage romance; radio stations once edited out a line about making love. Source
Try instead: Sweet Pea Amos Lee
Love song
Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper · on 2 of 7 top lists
A devoted love song Lauper and Rob Hyman wrote out of their own romantic relationships. Source
Try instead: True Colors Cyndi Lauper
Love song
Wonderful Tonight
Eric Clapton · on 2 of 7 top lists
Clapton wrote it while waiting for Pattie Boyd, his future wife, to get ready for a party. Source
Try instead: Wildflowers Tom Petty
Love song
Perfect
Ed Sheeran · on 2 of 7 top lists
Sheeran wrote it about Cherry Seaborn, now his wife; it describes falling in love. Source
Try instead: Right by You (for Luna) John Legend
Grief song
My Father's Eyes
Eric Clapton · on 2 of 7 top lists
Clapton wrote it about the father he never met, tied to the death of his young son. Source
Try instead: Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) Billy Joel
About his wife
All of Me
John Legend · on 1 of 7 top lists
Legend wrote it for Chrissy Teigen, his wife. His daughter song is Right by You (for Luna). Source
Try instead: Right by You (for Luna) John Legend
Love song
Somethin' Stupid
Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra · on 1 of 7 top lists
A father-daughter duet of a love-confession song; listeners nicknamed it 'the incest song'. Source
Try instead: Daddy's Little Girl The Mills Brothers
About a son
Father and Son
Cat Stevens · on 1 of 7 top lists
It's an argument between a father and a son who wants to leave home. Source
Try instead: Father and Daughter Paul Simon
About a son
Simple Man
Lynyrd Skynyrd · on 1 of 7 top lists
A mother's life advice to her son, inspired by the death of Ronnie Van Zant's grandmother. Source
Try instead: Forever Young Rod Stewart
Doesn't fit
She's Leaving Home
The Beatles · on 1 of 7 top lists
It tells of a teenage girl secretly running away from parents who are left heartbroken. Source
Try instead: Never Grow Up Taylor Swift
About a son
Just the Two of Us
Will Smith · on 1 of 7 top lists
Smith raps to his son, Trey; the Bill Withers original is a romance. Source
Try instead: Isn't She Lovely Stevie Wonder
Grief song
Afire Love
Ed Sheeran · on 1 of 7 top lists
Sheeran wrote it about his grandfather's dementia and death. Source
Try instead: Forever Now Michael Bublé
About a son
Even Though I'm Leaving
Luke Combs · on 1 of 7 top lists
Across three scenes of life, a son pleads with his father not to leave him; a father-son song about loss. Source
Try instead: Humble and Kind Tim McGraw
Love song
Hermoso Cariño
Vicente Fernández · on 1 of 7 top lists
Often listed as a father-daughter song, but Fernando Z. Maldonado wrote it about a romantic love. Source
Try instead: De Niña a Mujer Julio Iglesias
About a son
Cat's in the Cradle
Harry Chapin
A father too busy for his son, who grows up just as busy; it's a warning, not a tribute. Source
Try instead: Teach Your Children Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Doesn't fit
Daughter
Pearl Jam
It's about a child mistreated by parents who don't understand her learning disability. Source
Try instead: Daughter Loudon Wainwright III
Love song
El Reloj
Luis Miguel
Roberto Cantoral's 1956 romantic bolero, inspired by a brief love affair; it's about lovers, not family. Source
Try instead: Si Tuviera Que Elegir Ricardo Montaner
Find your father-daughter dance song
Pick the moment you want and whose words the song should be. Every song shows its length and where to fade it, so the dance lasts about two minutes.
The moment
Whose words
114 songs
Father-daughter dance songs that make you cry
Slow songs about watching a little girl grow up. Seat Dad near the tissues.
Butterfly Kisses
Bob Carlisle · 1996
A dad's memories of his daughter from bedtime prayers to her wedding day; Carlisle wrote it for his own girl.
5:47 Fade ~2:45
Father and Daughter
Paul Simon · 2002
A gentle promise from a father to watch over his daughter; written for The Wild Thornberrys Movie.
4:11 Fade ~2:00
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
Billy Joel · 1993
Joel's lullaby for his daughter Alexa, promising his love stays with her even after he's gone.
3:34
Because You Loved Me
Céline Dion · 1996
Songwriter Diane Warren says she wrote it to thank her father for believing in her.
4:34 Fade ~2:30
You Raise Me Up
Josh Groban · 2003
A thank-you to the person who lifts you higher than you could climb alone.
4:50 Fade ~2:15
You'll Be in My Heart
Phil Collins · 1999
From Tarzan: a parent promising a child they'll always be together, whatever anyone says.
4:18 Fade ~2:45
Hero
Mariah Carey · 1993
An encouragement song about finding strength inside yourself; reads as a parent's pep talk.
4:18 Fade ~2:35
Gracie
Ben Folds · 2005
Folds wrote this tender piano song for his daughter Gracie, about how she'll always be part of him.
2:38 Play it all
Daughter
Loudon Wainwright III · 2005
A plain, tender song from a father to his daughter; Peter Blegvad wrote it, and Knocked Up made it famous.
3:30 Fade ~2:55
Fathers & Daughters
Michael Bolton · 2015
Bolton's ballad from the 2015 film Fathers and Daughters, about the lasting bond between a dad and his girl.
3:29 Fade ~2:25
Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole · 1993
IZ's ukulele medley of two hopeful standards; soft, short and easy to sway to.
5:07 Fade ~2:40
Fall on Me
Andrea Bocelli & Matteo Bocelli · 2018
Bocelli sings it with his son: a parent promising to catch and guide a child; English and Italian.
4:19 Fade ~2:25
Butterfly Fly Away
Miley Cyrus & Billy Ray Cyrus · 2009
A real father-daughter duet from Hannah Montana: The Movie about letting a child grow up.
4:45 Fade ~2:55
Country father-daughter dance songs
Country does the father-daughter song better than anyone, and many were written by dads about their girls.
My Little Girl
Tim McGraw · 2006
A dad tells his growing daughter she will always be his little girl; McGraw co-wrote it.
3:44 Fade ~2:10
I Loved Her First
Heartland · 2006
The father of the bride talks to the groom on the wedding day about the girl he loved first.
3:33 Fade ~2:45
Daddy's Hands
Holly Dunn · 1986
A daughter remembers her father's hands: working, disciplining, praying and holding her. Dunn wrote it for her dad.
3:29 Fade ~1:40
There Goes My Life
Kenny Chesney · 2003
A young man's surprise baby girl becomes his whole life, then drives off to her own.
5:02 Fade ~2:50
My Wish
Rascal Flatts · 2006
A list of everything a parent hopes for a child's life.
4:08 Fade ~2:25
Stealing Cinderella
Chuck Wicks · 2007
Asking her father for permission, the groom sees the little girl the dad is giving away.
4:03 Fade ~2:35
Humble and Kind
Tim McGraw · 2015
A parent's simple life advice to a child heading out into the world.
4:20 Fade ~2:45
He Didn't Have to Be
Brad Paisley · 1999
A stepdad tribute: thanks to the man who chose to raise another man's child. Sung by a stepson.
4:43 Fade ~1:50
It Won't Be Like This for Long
Darius Rucker · 2008
A dad notices how fast his daughter's stages pass, from the crib to kindergarten.
Just Fishin'
Trace Adkins · 2011
A dad and his little girl on a fishing trip that is really about time together.
3:30 Fade ~2:50
The Girl You Think I Am
Carrie Underwood · 2015
A daughter hoping to live up to the girl her dad always believed she was.
3:38 Fade ~2:20
I'll Be Your Man (Song for a Daughter)
Zac Brown Band · 2015
Zac Brown's promise to protect his daughter until she finds someone who loves her right.
In My Daughter's Eyes
Martina McBride · 2003
A parent sees themselves as a hero through their daughter's eyes; sung by a mom, fits any parent.
3:14 Play it all
I Hope You Dance
Lee Ann Womack · 2000
A parent's wish that a child keeps taking chances and never sits life out.
4:55 Fade ~1:30
Lady
Brett Young · 2020
Young sings to his baby daughter about the woman she'll grow into, like her mother.
3:14 Play it all
The Man Who Loves You the Most
Zac Brown Band · 2020
Zac Brown's song for his four daughters: whoever comes along, Dad loves you most.
3:44 Fade ~2:25
Dance with My Daughter
Jason Blaine · 2015
Blaine's song about wanting to dance with his young daughter; a common country pick for this dance.
3:35 Fade ~2:50
Half the Man
Jennifer Hart · 2020
Hart's viral tribute to her dad: she hopes to find someone half the man he is.
3:23 Fade ~2:15
Fun and upbeat father-daughter dance songs
For a dad who'd rather show off his moves. Most of these also work as the second half of a switch-up.
Dance Like Yo Daddy
Meghan Trainor · 2016
A playful invite to dance like your dad, embarrassing moves and all.
3:03 Play it all
Daddy Lessons
Beyoncé · 2016
Stomping country-brass about what her father taught her; one verse is about him warning her off bad men.
4:48 Fade ~2:50
Happy
Pharrell Williams · 2013
Clap-along joy; an easy way to pull the whole room onto the floor.
3:53 Fade ~2:55
Celebration
Kool & the Gang · 1980
The classic call to celebrate; works as the fast half of a switch-up.
3:41 Fade ~2:50
You've Got a Friend in Me
Randy Newman · 1995
Toy Story's shuffle about loyal friendship; sweet and funny for a playful dad.
2:39 Play it all
I'll Be There for You
The Rembrandts · 1995
The Friends theme about sticking together when life goes sideways; instantly recognizable.
3:08 Play it all
Three Little Birds
Bob Marley & The Wailers · 1977
A laid-back reggae promise that things will turn out fine.
3:07 Play it all
Can't Stop the Feeling!
Justin Timberlake · 2016
A bright dance-floor song from Trolls; family-friendly and fast.
3:58 Fade ~2:45
Old Time Rock & Roll
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band · 1978
Dad-approved rock and roll; a crowd-pleaser to end a medley.
3:15 Play it all
Thank You for Being a Friend
Andrew Gold · 1978
A bouncy thank-you to a loyal friend, later the Golden Girls theme.
4:41 Fade ~2:25
Sweet Pea
Amos Lee · 2006
A short, bouncy pet-name song full of affection, with no romance spelled out.
2:10 Play it all
Best Day of My Life
American Authors · 2013
Stomp-and-clap optimism; a fun way to turn a slow dance into a party.
3:14 Play it all
Unwritten
Natasha Bedingfield · 2004
Your story is just beginning: an upbeat send-off into a new chapter.
4:19 Fade ~2:40
Days Like This
Van Morrison · 1995
Van Morrison counting the rare days when everything goes right.
3:17 Play it all
Classic and oldies father-daughter dance songs
Songs from before 1990, the ones Dad played in the car when she was small.
What a Wonderful World
Louis Armstrong · 1967
Armstrong's gravelly look at simple everyday beauty; short, slow and safe for any family.
2:19 Play it all
Daddy's Little Girl
The Mills Brothers · 1950
A 1950 ballad of a father's pride in his little girl; Michael Bublé's 2007 cover is the modern take.
Stand by Me
Ben E. King · 1961
A steady promise not to be afraid as long as you're beside me.
2:55 Play it all
Moon River
Andy Williams · 1962
A wistful waltz about wandering dreamers and the wide world ahead.
2:43 Play it all
You've Got a Friend
James Taylor · 1971
A promise to come whenever you need help, in any season. Written by Carole King.
4:29 Fade ~2:45
Forever Young
Bob Dylan · 1974
Dylan's blessing for his child: a list of wishes for a good, brave life.
2:48 Play it all
Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler · 1988
A thank-you to the quiet person behind your success; from Beaches.
4:54 Fade ~2:35
Little Miss Magic
Jimmy Buffett · 1981
Buffett's breezy song for his baby daughter Savannah Jane.
4:06 Fade ~2:45
Sunrise, Sunset
Topol, Norma Crane & Fiddler on the Roof film cast · 1971
From Fiddler on the Roof: parents at their daughter's wedding wondering when their little girl grew up.
3:51
Turn Around
Harry Belafonte · 1959
A parent blinks and a little girl is grown, married, with children of her own.
2:24 Play it all
The Father of Girls
Perry Como · 1968
A dad's warm, wry worries about raising daughters, from first dates to the wedding.
3:36 Fade ~1:35
Oh! My Papa
Eddie Fisher · 1953
A loving memory of a wonderful papa; from a Swiss musical where a daughter remembers her clown father.
3:07 Play it all
Smile
Nat King Cole · 1954
Gentle advice to keep smiling through hard days; Charlie Chaplin wrote the melody.
2:56 Play it all
True Colors
Cyndi Lauper · 1986
Reassurance that someone sees and loves who you really are.
3:46 Fade ~2:35
R&B and soul father-daughter dance songs
Smooth, warm and easy to sway to.
Isn't She Lovely
Stevie Wonder · 1976
Wonder's joyful song for newborn daughter Aisha; the album take runs over six minutes, so plan a fade.
6:33 Fade ~2:20
Daddy
Beyoncé · 2003
Beyoncé thanks her father for his love and sacrifices; long at about five minutes.
4:58 Fade ~1:50
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell · 1967
A promise to show up whenever you need me, no matter the distance; works well for a tempo switch.
2:28 Play it all
I'll Be There
The Jackson 5 · 1970
A pledge to be there to comfort and lean on, with a line hoping a new love treats you well.
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
Marvin Gaye · 1964
Gratitude for someone who was always there; James Taylor's 1975 cover is the gentler option.
3:01 Play it all
Lovely Day
Bill Withers · 1977
One look at you and the whole day turns good; easy mid-tempo groove.
4:15 Fade ~2:25
Lean on Me
Bill Withers · 1972
A promise to help carry the load whenever you need a friend.
4:18 Fade ~2:35
Ballerina Girl
Lionel Richie · 1986
Richie wrote this soft ballad for his young daughter Nicole.
3:41 Fade ~2:45
Color Him Father
The Winstons · 1969
A child's tribute to the stepfather who married his mom and raised the family; a stepdad pick.
2:58 Play it all
O-o-h Child
The Five Stairsteps · 1970
A soothing promise that things will get easier and brighter.
3:17 Play it all
Rock father-daughter dance songs
Classic rock and modern rock for the dad who raised her on it. Check the length: rock songs run long.
Forever Young
Rod Stewart · 1988
Stewart's wishes for his kids as they grow up, built on Dylan's song of the same name.
4:06 Fade ~2:10
Wildflowers
Tom Petty · 1994
A gentle send-off: you belong somewhere free. Petty later said he was singing to himself.
3:10 Play it all
Landslide
Fleetwood Mac · 1975
Stevie Nicks on growing older and facing change; she often dedicates it to her father.
3:19 Play it all
My Hero
Foo Fighters · 1997
Dave Grohl's anthem for ordinary, everyday heroes; loud, for a rock-loving dad.
4:20 Fade ~2:20
Dear Daughter
Halestorm · 2015
Lzzy Hale's letter of advice to a daughter about staying true to herself.
4:46 Fade ~2:05
I'll Stand by You
The Pretenders · 1994
A promise to stay through someone's darkest moments.
Teach Your Children
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young · 1970
Parents and children teaching each other; easy country-rock sway.
3:14 Play it all
Here Comes the Sun
The Beatles · 1969
Hope after a long winter; bright, short and family-safe.
3:06 Play it all
My Darling
Wilco · 1999
A quiet lullaby Jeff Tweedy wrote for his young son; gentle for a non-country dad.
3:38 Fade ~2:20
Kind & Generous
Natalie Merchant · 1998
A cheerful, repeated thank-you to someone who gave without asking anything back.
Modern father-daughter dance songs
Songs from 2010 on, for a younger dad or a bride who wants something guests haven't heard at every wedding.
Never Grow Up
Taylor Swift · 2010
Swift addresses a little one, wishing they could stay small, then looks back on her own growing up.
4:50 Fade ~2:20
Count on Me
Bruno Mars · 2010
A ukulele promise to always be there; short and upbeat.
3:17 Play it all
How Long Will I Love You
Ellie Goulding · 2013
A Waterboys devotion song with no romantic specifics; Goulding's version is soft and short.
2:27 Play it all
One Call Away
Charlie Puth · 2015
A promise to show up whenever you need someone; light and bouncy.
3:14 Play it all
First Man
Camila Cabello · 2019
Cabello tells her dad about the man she loves and thanks him for being her first.
3:49 Fade ~2:45
Right by You (for Luna)
John Legend · 2016
Legend's promise to his daughter Luna that he'll be beside her as she grows.
4:16
Cecilia and the Satellite
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness · 2014
McMahon wrote this bright piano-pop song for his newborn daughter, Cecilia.
3:44 Fade ~2:30
Forever Now
Michael Bublé · 2018
Bublé's song about watching his children grow up and loving them always.
3:40 Fade ~2:35
I Lived
OneRepublic · 2013
Ryan Tedder wrote it for his young son: a wish that he lives every moment fully.
3:55 Fade ~2:40
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Owl City · 2017
Adam Young's thank-you to his dad, the everyday hero of his childhood.
3:47 Fade ~2:30
Like My Father
Jax · 2021
Jax hopes to find a husband who loves her the way her dad loves her mom.
3:03 Play it all
Home
Phillip Phillips · 2012
A reassuring promise that you'll never face things alone and will always have a home.
3:30 Fade ~2:40
Rainbow
Kacey Musgraves · 2018
A soft reminder that hard times pass; gentle piano, easy to sway to.
3:34 Fade ~2:45
Cover Me in Sunshine
P!nk & Willow Sage Hart · 2021
Pink sings this sunny, hopeful song with her young daughter Willow.
2:19 Play it all
Christian father-daughter dance songs
Worship and gospel songs about a father's love and a blessing for her new life.
Cinderella
Steven Curtis Chapman · 2007
A dad learns to say yes to every dance with his daughters before the clock strikes midnight.
4:25 Fade ~2:35
Find Your Wings
Mark Harris · 2005
A parent's prayer for a child who is ready to leave the nest and fly on their own.
3:35 Fade ~2:30
Good Good Father
Chris Tomlin · 2015
A worship song about God as a loving father; faith-centered families use it as a dad tribute.
4:52 Fade ~2:35
I Smile
Kirk Franklin · 2011
Upbeat gospel about choosing joy through hard times; an easy switch-up for a church crowd.
5:08 Fade ~2:10
Daddy Sang Bass
Johnny Cash · 1968
Country gospel about a family singing together, Daddy on bass and Mama on tenor.
2:18 Play it all
Thank God for Kids
The Oak Ridge Boys · 1982
Parents counting their blessings: the noise, the mess and the love children bring.
2:33 Play it all
Spanish father-daughter dance songs
Canciones para el baile de padre e hija, for families who'd rather hear it en español.
De Niña a Mujer
Julio Iglesias · 1981
A father watching his little girl become a woman; Iglesias dedicated the album to daughter Chábeli.
3:18 Play it all
Si Tuviera Que Elegir
Ricardo Montaner · 2002
Montaner wrote it for his young daughter Evaluna and danced to it with her at her wedding.
4:24 Fade ~2:10
Tu Guardián
Juanes · 2004
A lullaby Juanes wrote for his children, promising to guard them all their lives.
4:26 Fade ~1:35
Tu Sangre en Mi Cuerpo
Ángela Aguilar & Pepe Aguilar · 2018
A real father-daughter ranchera duet about the family blood they share.
3:58 Fade ~1:45
No Crezcas Más
Tercer Cielo · 2014
A parent begging time to slow down: no matter her age, she'll always be their little girl.
4:20 Fade ~2:40
Mi Viejo
Piero · 1969
A grown child's tender portrait of an aging father; a standard across Latin America.
3:24 Fade ~2:35
Tiempo de Vals
Chayanne · 1990
The classic quinceañera father-daughter waltz; Chayanne danced it with his own daughter.
Papá, Quiero Decirte
Lali Torres · 2003
A daughter tells her father he is her hero and thanks him for his love.
3:18 Play it all
Songs written for the father-daughter dance
Songwriters now write songs just for this moment. These are real releases you can stream.
Daddy Dance with Me
Krystal Keith · 2013
Written for the dance: Toby Keith's daughter wrote it for her own wedding and surprised him with it.
4:18 Fade ~1:45
You'll Always Be My Baby (Written for Daughters' Weddings)
Alan Jackson · 2021
Written for the dance: Jackson wrote it for daughter Mattie's 2017 wedding, for all three daughters.
3:46 Fade ~2:35
Walk With You
Edwin McCain · 2009
Written for the dance: McCain wrote it when a friend asked for a song for his daughter's wedding.
4:34 Fade ~2:00
Yours
Post Malone · 2024
Written for her wedding day: Post Malone imagines walking his little daughter down the aisle.
3:19 Play it all
Hija Mía
Abraham Velázquez · 2011
Written for the wedding day: a father sings to his daughter as he walks her down the aisle.
3:35
Hoy Se Casa Mi Niña
Honorio Flores · 2021
Written for the wedding day: a father marks the day his little girl gets married.
4:10
Vals para una Novia
Alejandro Jaén · 1997
Written for the bride's waltz: a father sees his daughter in her dress and remembers her childhood.
4:13 Fade ~2:55
No songs match all of these. Try another choice or clear the filters.
How long should the father-daughter dance be?
About two minutes. That's long enough for a real moment and short enough that guests stay with you. Most songs run three to five minutes, so ask your DJ to fade at the end of a chorus. Every song above shows its length and where that fade lands.
Tap Copy DJ note on any song and text it to your DJ. It reads like this:
Father-daughter dance: "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw (3:44). Please fade it out around 2:10, at the end of the chorus.
Ask for the album version. Radio edits and live versions run different lengths, so the fade time won't match.
The switch-up: start slow, end on the dance floor
The surprise father-daughter dance starts like any other: a slow song for about a minute. Then the DJ cuts it with a record scratch and the music turns upbeat. Guests love it, and it takes the pressure off anyone who doesn't love being watched. Three plans that work:
Tears, then the dance floor
- 0:00–1:15: My Little Girl, Tim McGraw. The slow dance everyone expects.
- 1:15: record scratch, then Dance Like Yo Daddy, Meghan Trainor.
- 2:00: Celebration, Kool & the Gang. The DJ calls everyone onto the floor.
For the classic rock dad
- 0:00–1:15: Forever Young, Rod Stewart.
- 1:15: scratch into Old Time Rock & Roll, Bob Seger. Let Dad do his thing.
- 2:00: Can't Stop the Feeling!, Justin Timberlake, and the floor opens.
In her words
- 0:00–1:15: Because You Loved Me, Céline Dion. Diane Warren wrote it to thank her own father.
- 1:15: scratch into I'll Be There for You, The Rembrandts.
- 2:00: Best Day of My Life, American Authors. Everyone dances.
Give the DJ the exact times, and practice the switch once at home. The first time Dad hears the scratch should not be at the reception.
When the day isn't simple
Not every family fits the usual picture. Here's how other families handle the father-daughter dance when Dad isn't there, or isn't the only one.
If Dad has passed
Ask the man who stepped in, a grandfather, uncle or brother, to dance with her. Or have the DJ play his favorite song while his photo is up, and let the room just listen. Tell the DJ which one you want ahead of time, so nobody is caught off guard.
Dad and stepdad
Split one song at the bridge, with Dad first, or play two short songs back to back, about 90 seconds each. Tell them both the plan before the wedding, not on the dance floor.
Two dads
Dance with both at once to something upbeat, or split one song at the chorus and let them trade off mid-song.
The grandfather or uncle who raised her
Call it what it is. Have the DJ say who he is to her on the mic, and pick a song about the man who showed up.
A dad who hates dancing
Keep it to 90 seconds and have the DJ invite everyone onto the floor at the first chorus. A slow sway with a twirl at the end is plenty.
A dad who can't stand for long
Pick a slow sway under three minutes, ask for the fade at the first chorus, or dance beside his chair. Holding hands and swaying counts.
Who picks the song, and when the dance happens
The bride usually picks, but ask Dad first. Some dads have had a song saved since the day she was born. The dance usually comes right after the couple's first dance, with the mother-son dance after it.
Some couples do one parent dance instead of two: both parents start with their kids, then everyone switches partners at the chorus.
A song about the two of you
Some songwriters now write songs just for this dance. A custom song goes one step further: it's written from her memories of him, with his name in it. Here's one we made from a made-up story, sung from the bride to her dad.
Country Folk
Emma's Song for Her Dad
Example father-daughter dance song from Emma to her dad, written around bike rides down Maple Street, Saturday mornings at the lake and the radio in his old blue truck.
Example song written from a made-up story. We never share customers' songs.
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