60+ Musical Theatre Songs About Fathers
Last Updated: May 11, 2025
Musicals feature a wide range of father figures—from those struggling to figure out their identity, to distracted dads, and ones who thrive in their paternal roles. Whether you’re performing in a themed showcase or preparing a musical gift for your own dad, here’s a list of musical theatre songs about fathers, sorted by emotional theme and tone.
This list was curated using Theatre Trip’s extensive database of over 2,500 musical theatre songs. The selections below showcase some of the most relevant pieces about fatherhood.
Post Contents:
Complex Songs About Fatherhood
Reflective Songs About Fathers
Famous Musical Theatre Fathers
Comedic Songs About Fathers
These songs are perfect for getting a laugh. They take a playful, humorous look at fatherhood and father–child relationships.
“It’s a Boy” – The Will Rogers Follies
“Just Like Him” – Elf
“My Daddy Always Taught Me to Share” – Grind
“Tell My Father” – The Civil War
“The Ballad of Farquaad” – Shrek
“The Pants Song” – Be More Chill
“World’s Greatest Dad” – Elf
Complex Songs About Fatherhood
These songs explore complicated father and child dynamics, touching on darker themes of fear, loss, pain, and emotional or physical absence.
“After All of This and Everything” – Freaky Friday
“Bring Him Home” – Les Misérables
“Heartbreaker” – Bright Star
“Dead Man’s Boots” – The Last Ship
“Endless Night” – The Lion King
“Far From the Home I Love” – Fiddler on the Roof
“He Lives in You (Reprise)” – The Lion King
“Hold Me In Your Heart” – Kinky Boots
“Left Behind” – Spring Awakening
“Lost in the Darkness” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Man I Never Knew” – The Burnt Part Boys
“Maps” – Fun Home
“Maybe He Likes Me” – The Man in the Ceiling
“My Grand Plan” – The Lightning Thief
“Not My Father’s Son” – Kinky Boots
“O Tixo, Tixo Help Me!” – Lost in the Stars
“Safer” – First Date
“Silly Old Hat” – Children’s Letters to God
“Soliloquy” – Carousel
“There’s a Chance” – Mr. Saturday Night
“Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” – The Phantom of the Opera
“Your Daddy’s Son” – Ragtime
Emotional Fatherhood Songs
These songs capture the raw, honest experience of being a father, expressing the day-to-day realities, emotions, nuances, and complexities of fatherhood.
“Almost There” – The Man in the Ceiling
“Father to Son” – Falsettos
“Fathers and Sons” – Working
“Fight the Dragons” – Big Fish
“Happy/Sad” – The Addams Family
“The Hardest Part of Love” – Children of Eden
“Stranger” – Big Fish
“That’s What I Could Do” – Violet
“Time” – Tuck Everlasting
“Wheels of a Dream” – Ragtime
Reflective Songs About Fathers
These songs are sung from the perspective of someone reflecting on their father, upbringing, or early life, often offering thoughtful or philosophical insights.
“A Puzzlement” – The King and I
“And They’re Off” – A New Brain
“At the Ballet” – A Chorus Line
“Daddy’s Girl” – Grey Gardens
“Footprint” – The Theory of Relativity
“If I Sing” – Closer Than Ever
“Inútil” – In the Heights
“Millwork” – Working
“Somebody Will” – Shucked
“Very Soft Shoes” – Once Upon a Mattress
Wholesome Fatherhood Songs
These heartwarming songs are full of the gentle warmth, tenderness, and sweetness of a loving father-child relationship.
“Breeze Off the River” – The Full Monty
“Gliding” – Ragtime
“Hey, Kid” – If/Then
“Look Over There” – La Cage aux Folles
“My Dad” – The Great British Bake Off Musical
“Something Was Missing” – Annie
“To Break in a Glove” – Dear Evan Hansen
“You Two” – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Duets About Fatherhood
The following duets feature one or two father characters as singers, or center around the themes of fathers and fatherhood.
“A Man’s Gotta Do” – Bright Star
“Back in the Day” – It Shoulda Been You
“Dear Theodosia” – Hamilton
“Mushnik & Son” – Little Shop of Horrors
“No Matter What” – Beauty and the Beast
“Our Children” – Ragtime
“Plant a Radish” – The Fantasticks
“Telephone Wire” – Fun Home
Famous Musical Theatre Fathers
Here’s a list of some of the most iconic fathers in mainstream musicals. These characters’ stories and identities are deeply rooted in their role as a dad.
Alexander Hamilton – Hamilton
Bruce Bechdel – Fun Home
Jean Valjean – Les Misérables
Marvin – Falsettos
Maurice – Beauty and the Beast
Oliver Warbucks – Annie
Tateh – Ragtime
The Old Man – A Christmas Story
Walter – Elf
Wilbur Turnblad – Hairspray
Related Posts
• Musical Theatre Songs About Family
• Musical Theatre Songs About Growing Up
• Musical Theatre Songs About Home
• Musical Theatre Songs About Mothers
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Which of these musical theatre songs about fathers is your favorite?
And are there any other great songs about fathers we might have forgotten? We would love to hear all about it in the comments below!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
