Daddy's Hands

Album: Holly Dunn (1985)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • As might be deduced from the title, this Holly Dunn composition is a personal song; it was actually written as a Father's Day present. At the time she wrote it her parents had been married for well over 40 years. Her mother was a painter, and her father, unsurprisingly, a Church Of Christ minister.

    Daddy's Hands was Dunn's 4th single and her breakthrough record. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • This was originally recorded by the country music trio The Whites, made up of sisters Sharon and Cheryl and their dad, Buck. Their version got caught up in red tape at their record label and was never released, so Dunn decided to include it on her own album. She quickly learned the tune had a peculiar effect on her live audiences.

    She explained in a Songfacts interview: "I could see every time I did 'Daddy's Hands,' people were weeping. It was like: 'What is going on here?' I was looking around at the band: 'Now, what the heck? Something's really happening when I do this song.' So, when it came time to try to figure out what the fourth single was going to be, I brought up to the record label guys and I said: 'Look, something's happening out here. I don't know what's happening but something's really happening with this song. I think we should consider putting this out because it really seems to be touching people.'"
  • This was a #7 hit on the Country chart.
  • Dunn performed this as a duet with Dolly Parton in 1988 on Parton's short-lived variety show, Dolly.
  • Dunn earned two Grammy nominations for "Daddy's Hands": Best Country Vocal Performance - Fame (winner: Reba McEntire for "Whoever's In New England") and Best Country & Western Song (winner: Jamie O'Hara for "Grandpa (Tell Me 'bout the Good Old Days)."

Comments: 1

  • Debra Martin Riley from Hueytown AlWrote this song for my dad when I was a teenager.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.