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: 2

  • E. Vest from U.s.a.The brother of the late Holly Dunn, may also find it odd as I to see the comment from: "Debra Martin Riley from Hueytown AL"
  • Debra Martin Riley from Hueytown AlWrote this song for my dad when I was a teenager.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

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.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.