“When a Son Loses His Father” was originally written as a poem, but was then expanded into song lyrics. Below is a video poem of the song, the song lyrics, and the original poem.
For those looking for that perfect father daughter wedding or other special occasion song, “Songs for Fathers and Daughters” can also be found.
Now that he’s without him
what is he working for
He had never truly realized
His dad drove him to want more
With working came acceptance
replaced emotions he concedes and his father unavailable,
he kept his schedule filled with deeds,
When his father passed away
it broke him to the core
just learning he and his dad
had things in common they stood for
His dad had loved unconditionally,
despite his character flaws
and perhaps was thinking he’d call his son
when the winter thaws
but winters came and went
and neither reached to call
yet they truly loved each other
despite their voices being awol
His imperfect life with his Dad,
is now the oddest gift he treasures
He’s vowed to be a father
for his sons to proudly measure
He says “I love you” to his kids,
and has being saying so for many years
then thinks of what he missed
with his Dad,
and it reduces him to tears
Nothing can make that emptiness go
he carries the lesson learned
Knowing now to speak his love out loud
not said to be returned
When a son loses his father
a part of himself fades into the light
as do the words he rarely stated,
like, “Dad, nice to hear from you tonight”
or picking up the phone to say,
“hi dad, did you just hear”,
are calls he wished he’d made
while he wipes away a tear,
Now in a prayer he says, “I love you Dad”,
to the heavens he kneels and pleads
and wonders if his fathers knows
that his love’s so strong, it bleeds
“Dad, in case you didn’t know it,
I love you more than I can say
I always tell my kids I love them
I learned that the hard way,
and in my heart,
my father,
you shall always stay”.
By Barbara Tremblay Cipak, Copyrighted
Song Lyric Version of
When A Son Loses His Father
(VERSE ONE)
Now that he’s without him
what is he workin’ for
He had never truly realized
His dad drove him to want more
With workin’ came acceptance
replaced emotions he concedes
and his father unavailable,
he kept his schedule filled with deeds,
When his father passed away
it really broke him to the core
just learning he and his dad
had things in common they stood for
(CHORUS)
His dad had loved unconditionally,
despite his character flaws
and perhaps was thinking he’d call his son
when the winter thaws
but winters came and went
and neither reached to call
yet they truly loved each other
despite their voices being awol
His imperfect life with his Dad,
is now the oddest gift he treasures
He’s vowed to be a father
for his sons to proudly measure
He says “I love you” to his kids,
and has being saying so for many years
then thinks of what he missed
with his Dad,
and it reduces him to tears
Nothing can make that emptiness go
he carries the lesson learned
Knowing now to speak his love out loud
not said to be returned
(VERSE TWO)
When a son loses his father
a part of himself fades into the light
as do the words he rarely stated,
like, “Dad, nice to hear from you tonight”
or picking up the phone to say,
“hi dad, did you just hear”,
are calls he wished he’d made
while he wipes away a tear,
Now in a prayer he says, “I love you Dad”,
to the heavens he kneels and pleads
and wonders if his fathers knows
that his love’s so strong, it bleeds
“Dad, in case you didn’t know it,
I love you more than I can say
I always tell my kids I love them
I learned that the hard way,
and in my heart,
my father,
you shall always stay”.
(BRIDGE into Final Chorus)
Winters passed into the night
like this father and this son
too late to change the way it went
too late to change a wrong, he says
“Goodbye my father,
I love you more than I thought I might
and Despite my life’s hard journey
in my heart there’s only light
and to have this love in me,
you must have done a few things right”
Although winters came and went
and neither reached to call
they truly loved each other
despite their voices being awol
Nothing can make that emptiness go
he carries the lesson learned
Knowing now to speak his love out loud
not said to be returned
“Dad, I’m sure you truly know it,
I love you more than I can say
because I always tell my kids I love them
I learned from our mistakes,
and in my heart,
my father,
you shall always stay”.
By Barbara Tremblay Cipak, Copyrighted
When A Son Loses His Father: Do you know someone who has experienced this type of gut-wrenching loss? Unfortunately this pain may be a sad truth, with some what of a hopeful ending, for many people. This was hard to write, for many reasons.
We are so much more than what we are
We dream we plan
We travel so far
We learn we know
We ere we grow
We love we cry
We shine we try
We share we take
We feel we make
We work we rest
We grow we nest
We reach to touch the science star
We are so much more than what we are
By Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Poem, HOPE: Being in the mood for extreme simplicity, the most basic interpretation of who we really are, put these very basic thoughts to paper.
Time heals
Promising closure
Shrinking scars like popping bubbles
As it prepares our gift
Times benefaction is objectivity to our past
Building an awareness of yesteryears
Defogging our vision for truth
Generously donating our package of clarity
Time lies only to those
who misuse its precious moments,
Lines entrenched on our face
can devour redeemable blemishes
By gracefully accepting our package
healing eyes can widen to witness dissipating mist
Time promises blessed tomorrows
Let us put away our spinning wheels
plunge forward with our lesson
accept our bequest from Time, and yes!
We will have morning smiles
By Barbara Tremblay Cipak, Copyrighted
Poem, Time Passing: This poem has quite a history…When I was about 17 years old, on my way by train to visit a friend, I wrote a poem called, “Time Heals All Wounds”. There wasn’t anything going on negatively in my life at the time, I just remember feeling reflective about how time was passing by, and how time changes so much. Well today, at this time in my life, over 20 years later, I was re-reading this poem…and I felt compelled to modify it. I added a theme that I learned only by growing older (or should I say “maturing”). That is, that of course, yes, everything changes as time goes by, but more importantly it’s our life lessons that we absorb from time..or in some cases, don’t absorb, at which point we are left spinning our wheels and repeating the same mistakes. So this poem is my maturing lesson of “Times Gift”..(lets hope
I listen to your words
I listen to your poems
I listen carefully
for in the words
I know you
You have unwittingly cast me
as the lead in your stories
Through you I know myself
Each of us so unique
Yet identical in our urge to paint portraits
of our deepest dreams
failed choices
and humble successes
You touch me with your need to sing out
your spirits mission to this world
Together we deliver the unsung songs
Gathering as one voice
Expecting nothing
We are blessed to unite in our message to humanity
that in each of us is dance
a glorious dance
I’m never alone for in your words
I embrace your Holy Spirit
and I dance the Poets Dance with You
By Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Poem for Poets: This poem pretty much speaks for itself. It’s a poem dedicated to poets. Often times when we read a poem we see ourselves, our lives, in that poem. As in music, it is in poetry. So this poem is dedicated to the poet who tells his or her story but “unwittingly casts us” in them.
Chasing dreams like butterfly hunters
calculated swings or a free sweeping swoosh
Destiny defined with mathematical precision
or passions tasted in sips like wine
Opposing forces threaten clarity
but worse steal time from dreams
Our soul embraces truth
only speaking when we listen
Haunting sounds of the harp
call us to our plan
Do we assess the instrument
or hear soothing angels play the answers
With magical sounds of the intangible hugging us
Do we squeeze tightly
whimsically swaying to the butterfly dance
hoping to discover
the ultimate scientific formula,
Faith
By Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Poem, Faith: This poem is for those times in our life when we may be guilty of over analyzing our purpose. You know, the times when you think to yourself..”I have these dreams”…but “so what”..”so does everyone else, what makes mine so special”. That’s when sometimes we try to calculate our dreams..sorta figure them out..like a physics question. Thus begins the debate in our mind, do we simply forge ahead with our hearts, or do we calculate every step along the way to make them come true. But the big question is, will they come true? Am I worthy, am I passionate enough?
Time passing sings loudly
Measure not the Journey
Nor the choices made
Rather unions formed,
Vows spoken freely,
Promises of everlasting love,
They are the hands elevating our spirit
To touch God
Can you see the Beauty of it?
Their faces one with a higher power
As they join with the other, now
Two people peacefully united,
Delivering breaths of light
To a world seeking grace
There is such beauty in it
Holding our heads high
We donate our tears
As they vow to Have and to Hold
We cry as we too have witnessed
God’s love bless our own union
Each clinging tear our gift to them
Knowing the light of the Holy Spirit
Shall be their arms on tired days
We have seen the beauty of it
Embracing on this joyous day
Blessed by God,
Witnessed by family and friends
Each one us gives to them
The singular power of Faith
Knowing Faith to be God’s timeless
Sustainer of life and eternal joy
That is the Beauty of it
By Barbara Tremblay Cipak
A WEDDING POEM: This poem was written as a wedding gift for a family member who is very dear to me. The title “The Beauty of It” comes from the line in the movie, Bridges Over Madison County, where Meryl Streep says she wonders “if anyone could ever see the beauty of it” (not an exact quote). The line in the movie touched me deeply, and if I had the power to grant one blessing for this wedding it would be that both of them experience this deep love with each other for their lifetime. “This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime”…so perfectly stated by Clint Eastwoods character in the movie. What a beautiful wish for any couple.
Someday you’ll take me to your beautiful
And show me all the colors there
Someday you’ll take me to your plentiful
And show me time I’ve always had to spare
Someday you’ll take me to your peacefulness
And show me joy in quiet care
I need to feel your spiritual
Where we’ll climb upon your knowledge stair
Lead me to your wonderful
And show me how to dance without a single care
Fly me to your gloryness
Where music plays itself in air
Sing to me collective passions
The Choir freed from all despair
Let me live my life in comprehensiveness
Happiness my gift from prayer
Shine a light within my beautiful
And show me every color there
By Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Poem, Our True Self, Our Secret Place: This poem, when you first read it, sounds as though it’s speaking about passing to the next life. Actually, this poem is written about the place in ourselves, in our spirit, that is untouchable. Through all the stress, pain, confusion and struggles life presents to us, there is, inside of us, a place..our secret place…that nobody is able to penetrate. Personally, I’m able to tap into this inner sanctuary and hope others can find a way to know “that which is only theirs to keep”. This is a place where people cannot piggy back their problems and actions onto you. Visualize it as an inner light sorta swirling in the middle of your tummy. It’s you. It’s the real “you”. The untouched “you”. The “you” despite the imprint the world has made on your character. The “you” that simply “is”. Your own personal connection to heaven. Almost like a reminder that we are not to let this life overwhelm and consume us to any breaking point because this place is our inner connection to where we really come from and when we are called home, this place will blossom like a flower. So stand strong in your day to day struggles and know that in you is a secret place that is only yours, and you are always and forever safe there.
Willing to Collaborate with Artists - If Interested in Lyrics, Contact Barbara Tremblay Cipak at 416-566-0643 or barbara@drageda.com - Author of Song Lyrics, and Poetry, and creator of related Videos on Drageda.com - Thank you!
