Family Man

Album: Roachford (1988)
Charted: 25
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Family Man" was the first single released from Roachford's self-titled debut album in 1988. The song initially didn't chart. Following the success of Roachford's subsequent single, "Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me)," however, "Family Man" was rereleased in 1989 and charted at #25 in the UK.

    The song tells the story of a bachelor who's decided to commit to becoming a loving husband and father. Andrew Roachford revealed to Songfacts that the protagonist was in fact inspired by Ozzy Osbourne, who Roachford encountered in a canteen where he was rehearsing. "Ozzy Osbourne and his wife and kids were there," Roachford said. "Ozzy Osbourne is obviously the wild man of rock - biting heads off of bats and stuff - but there he was with his wife telling him off about something and it completely threw me but it was quite funny to watch. There was the wild man of rock being told off by his wife."
  • In 2017, Andrew Roachford told music journalist Malcolm Wyatt that touring had prevented him from becoming a family man himself, explaining: "I've spent so much of my life on the road I haven't really had time. I kind of missed that one. I don't really have a family in that sense but I'm on the road with my brother, and my cousins are around all the time. I've always had family around."
  • "Family Man" was accompanied by an official video starring Barrie Sharpe, founder of the influential clothing brand Duffer of St. George.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.