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30 Best Father-Daughter Dance Songs of All Time

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If you’re looking for the perfect father-daughter dance song for your special day, look no further than this list of the top 30 tunes to consider.

30 Best Father-Daughter Dance Songs of All Time
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Weddings are full of traditions, but none is more endearing than the father-daughter dance. While common at weddings, father daughter dances are also popular at quinceañeras and debutante balls. These dances are a demonstration of the love between father and daughter, or the bride and a male role-model from an older generation if the father is not available. While the father daughter dance is a common practice, the father daughter dance song chosen for the occasion is unique to the bride and her relationship with her father. The good news is that no matter your background or musical taste there is sure to be a father daughter dance song that will be perfect for you. Whether you like country songs, oldies, easy-listening, rock, or pop, you’ll have plenty of themes and genres to choose from with our list. Here are the 30 best father daughter dance songs of all time along with the most notable lyrics.

30 Best Father Daughter Dance Songs of All Time

1. “I Loved Her First” – Heartland

Notable Lyrics “But I loved her first, I held her first And a place in my heart will always be hers. From the first breath she breathed, When she first smiled at me I knew the love of a father runs deep. And I prayed that she’d find you someday But it’s still hard to give her away. I loved her first.”

2. “Butterfly Kisses” – Bob Carlisle

Notable Lyrics “’Walk me down the aisle daddy, it’s just about time. Does my wedding gown look pretty, daddy? Daddy, don’t cry.’ Oh, with all that I’ve done wrong I must have done something right To deserve her love every morning and butterfly kisses.”

3. “My Wish” – Rascal Flatts

Notable Lyrics “But more than anything, more than anything My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to. Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small, You never need to carry more than you can hold. And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too. Yeah this is my wish.”

4. “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” – Rod Stewart

Notable Lyrics “Have I told you lately that I love you? Have I told you there’s no one else above you? You fill my heart with gladness, Take away all my sadness. Easy my troubles, that’s what you do.”

5. “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” – Stevie Wonder

Notable Lyrics “You are the sunshine of my life That’s why I’ll always be around. You are the apple of my eye. Forever you’ll stay in my heart.”

6. “The Time of My Life” – David Cook

Notable Lyrics “And I’ll taste every moment And live it out loud. I know this is the time, This is the time to be More than a name Or a face in the crowd. I know this is the time, This is the time of my life.”

7. “Lean On Me” – Bill Withers

Notable Lyrics “Lean on me when you’re not strong And I’ll be your friend. I’ll help you carry on For it won’t be long Til’ I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.”

8. “Dance With My Father” – Luther Vandross

Notable Lyrics “Back when I was a child, Before life removed all the innocence. My father would lift me high And dance with my mother and me and then Spin me around till I fell asleep. Then up the stairs he would carry me And I knew for sure I was loved.”

9. “Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)” – Billy Joel

Notable Lyrics “Goodnight, my angel. Time to close your eyes And save those questions for another day. I think I know what you’ve been asking me, I think you know what I’ve been trying to say. I promised I would never leave you And you should always know Wherever you may go, No matter where you are, I’ll never be far away.”

10. “My Little Girl” – Tim McGraw

Notable Lyrics “You’re beautiful, baby, from the outside in. Chase your dreams, but always know the road That’ll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world, But to me you know you’ll always be My little girl.”

11. “There Goes My Life” – Kenny Chesney

Notable Lyrics “He smiles There goes my life. There goes my future, my everything, I love you, daddy goodnight. There goes my life.”

12. “You Are So Beautiful” – Joe Cocker

Notable lyrics “You are so beautiful to me. Can’t you see You’re everything I hoped for, You’re everything I need. You are so beautiful To me.”

13. “When You Need Me” – Bruce Springsteen

Notable Lyrics “If you miss me, I’ll be there To brush the sunlight from your hair. I’ll be there to guide you when trouble walks beside you, If you need me I’ll be there. And when this dirty world has been cold to you I got two strong arms waitin’ to hold you. And when those mean days come along We’ll stand together and we’ll take ‘em on. So if you need me just call my name.”

14. “(They Long to Be) Close to You” – The Carpenters

Notable Lyrics “On the day that you were born the angels got together And decided to create a dream come true. So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold And starlight in your eyes of blue. That is why all the girls in town Follow you around. Just like me, they long to be Close to you.”

15. “Always, in All Ways” – Kenny Loggins

Notable Lyrics “I still remember you as a child Holding you in my arms. The way you looked up to me I thought that I’d always be, I’d be there beside you For always, in all ways.”

16. “Daddy” – Beyoncé

Notable Lyrics “Because you loved me I overcome, yeah And I’m so proud of what you’ve become, yeah. You’ve given me such security No matter what mistakes I make you’re there for me. You cure my disappointments and you heal my pain. You understood and you protected me, I treasure every irreplaceable memory.”

17. “Daughters” – John Mayer

Notable Lyrics “I know a girl She puts the color inside my world. She’s just like a maze Where all the walls all continually change. And I’ve done all I can To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands. Now I’m starting to see Maybe it’s got nothing to do with me.”

18. “Dream Big” – Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband

Notable Lyrics “And when you dream, dream big, As big as the ocean, blue. Cause when you dream it might come true. For when you dream, dream big.”

19. “Gracie” – Ben Folds

Notable Lyrics “You can’t fool me, I saw you when you came out. You got your mamma’s taste but you got my mouth. And you will always have a part of me Nobody else is ever going to see. Gracie girl.”

20. “I Hope You Dance” – Lee Ann Womack

Notable Lyrics “I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance, Never settle for the path of least resistance. Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’, Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’. Don’t let some Hell bent heart leave you bitter, When you come close to sellin’ out, reconsider. Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance, And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance I hope you dance, I hope you dance.”

21. “You Raise Me Up” – Josh Groban

Notable Lyrics “You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains. You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas. I am strong when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up to more than I can be.”

22. “Your Song” – Elton John

Notable Lyrics “And you can tell everybody this is your song. It may be quite simple, but now that it’s done I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind That I put down into words How wonderful life is while you’re in the world.”

23. “Then They Do” – Trace Adkins

Notable Lyrics “Then they do, that’s how it is. It’s just quiet in the morning, Can’t believe how much you miss All they do and all they did. You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true Then they do.”

24. “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” – Darius Rucker

Notable Lyrics “It won’t be like this for long. One day soon that little girl is gonna be All grown up and gone. Yeah this phase is gonna fly by He’s trying to hold on. It won’t be like this for long.”

25. “Always Be Your Baby” – Natalie Grant

Notable Lyrics “You are my hero And that will never change. You still can dry my tears with just your smile. The one I’ve leaned on From my first steps To walking down the aisle. Now there’s another man in my life But I know by the look in your eyes I’ll always be your baby.”

26. “Daddy’s Little Girl” – The Shires

Notable Lyrics “He always used to tell me, ‘Don’t grow up too fast. Love will come, love will go, your first won’t be your last.’ I didn’t always listen when he gave me advice Thought I hate to admit it, but that man is always right. Used to wrap my hands around his little finger, Turns out he was wrapped around mine. He said, ‘You can be anything you want to in this great big world’ But I’m always gonna be daddy’s little girl, daddy’s little girl.”

27. “Walk With You” – Edwin McCain

Notable Lyrics “Every step that we take Brings back the memories. Winter snows and horse shows, Dancing on the beach. I can’t help thinking that I’m the lucky one, You’re still my baby daughter And now I’ve gained a son.”

28. “Dance With My Daughter” – Jason Blaine

Notable Lyrics “Greatest gift in the world Is a new baby girl. Feels like God took a chance Placing her here in my hands. Gonna dance with my daughter, Spin her around under the lights ‘Cause I’m just a father Making the most of this moment in time. Before she lets me go, I’ll hold her close Caught in this race against time. Right now all I want is to dance with my daughter tonight.”

29. “Butterfly Fly Away” – Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus

Notable Lyrics “You tucked me in, turned out the light, Kept me safe and sound at night. Little girls depend on things like that. Brushed my teeth and combed my hair, Had to drive me everywhere. You were always there when I looked back. You had to do it all along, Make a living, make a home. Must have been as hard as it could be And when I couldn’t sleep at night Scared things wouldn’t turn out right You would hold my hand and sing to me.”

30. “Hero” – Mariah Carey

Notable Lyrics “And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on. And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive. So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you’ll finally see the truth, That a hero lies in you.”

Final Thoughts

It’s possible to have the wedding of your dreams without spending a fortune, but luckily one of the most common traditions doesn’t cost a dime. The list above encompasses the absolute best father-daughter dance songs that will help you make your wedding the best day of your life. Which of these father daughter dance songs is perfect for your special day?

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Jessica Bishop Headshot

Jessica Bishop is the founder of TheBudgetSavvyBride.com, and has worked in various areas and roles within the wedding industry since 2007. She is the author of the best-selling book,The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer and also hosts The Bouquet Toss Wedding Planning Podcast. Jessica's expert wedding advice and savvy savings tips have been featured by Good Morning America, COSMOPOLITAN, Glamour, and more.