Let's sing a song about Daddy

Jun. 20—Happy Father's Day!!! Let's sing a song about good ol' Dad:

DADDY DADDY (Author unknown)

Sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Daddy, daddy, let me say

I love you in every way.

I love you for all you do

I love you for being you.

Daddy, Daddy, let me say

Have a happy Father's Day!

You know what? You all sounded pretty good. Well, actually there was one guy in the back row who was a little off-key, but overall a good performance.

So, what are you doing for your dad today? A big meal? A trip to a baseball game or amusement park? Presenting him with a new tie or shirt or other type of wearing apparel? Flowers? Yes, some men would enjoy that! If you're lucky to have your dad in your life, at the least give him a hug and a kiss and say "Thank you, Dad! I love you!" If your dad has passed on, then say a prayer for him and remember what you can of him.

So how did Father's Day happen? According to the Library of Congress, "The first Mother's Day was celebrated in 1908, but a holiday honoring fathers did not become official until 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson declared that the third Sunday in June would be Father's Day. President Richard Nixon made this proclamation permanent in 1972, which was the year my dad passed away at 58. But this doesn't mean that the holiday was not celebrated before this time.

"The idea for Father's Day is attributed to Sonora Dodd, who was raised by her father after her mother's death during childbirth. While listening to a sermon at church on Mother's Day, she thought about all her father had done for her and her siblings and decided fathers should have a day, too. Because Dodd's father was born in June, she encouraged churches in her area, Spokane, Washington, to honor fathers that month. The first Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane in 1910.

"Over the years, the idea spread, and people lobbied Congress to establish the holiday. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson, who had signed a proclamation establishing Mother's Day, approved the idea, but never signed a proclamation for it. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event to "establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations."

Below are the lyrics to two Father's Day songs. Enjoy.

EVERYDAY MY PAPA WOULD WORK

By Krishan Vrihaspati

Everyday my papa would work

To try to make ends meet,

To see that we would eat

Keep those shoes upon my feet.

Every night my papa would take me

And tuck me in my bed

Kiss me on my head

After all my prayers were said.

And there were years

Of sadness and of tears,

Through it all

Together we were strong.

We were strong,

Times were rough,

But Papa, he was tough,

Mama stood beside him all along.

Growing up with them was easy,

The time had flew on by.

The years began to fly,

They aged and so did I,

And I could tell

That mama she wasn't well,

Papa knew, and deep down so did she,

So did she.

When she died,

Papa broke down and he cried.

And all he could say was, "God, why her? Take me!"

Everyday he sat there sleeping in a rocking chair,

He never went upstairs,

Because she wasn't there.

Then one day my Papa said,

"Son, I'm proud of how you've grown."

He said, "Go out and make it on your own.

Don't worry. I'm O.K. alone."

He said, "There are things that you must do."

He said, "There's places you must see."

And his eyes were sad as he,

As he said goodbye to me.

Every time I kiss my children

Papa's words ring true.

He said, "Children live through you.

Let them grow! They'll leave you, too."

I remember every word Papa used to say.

I kiss my kids and pray

That they'll think of me.

Oh, how I pray,

They will think of me

That way. Someday.

—OH! WRITE ME A SONG OF MY FATHER

Words And Music by C. Henry

Oh! write me a song of my father,

And tell me the reason, I pray.

You ever write songs about mother,

Not a word of dear father, you say?

Is his love and affection less ardent?

Does his heart less emotion bestow?

Though the sun to the moon is less ardent,

Still but one light from both o'er us glow.

Chorus:

Oh! write me a song of my father,

And tell me the reason, I pray.

You ever write songs about mother.

Not a word of dear father you say?

Oh! think of him when in your childhood,

With dear mother he'd fervently pray,

And call you his child and his darling,

And that God might protect you alway;

Then blessings and kisses he'd give you,

And call you his own pretty boy,

When scarce you could lisp the word "Father!"

And your heart free from earthly alloy.

Chorus.

And now that you've grown into manhood,

Be grateful to him whose fond care

Ever guarded both you and your mother,

And as oft dried the sorrowful tear.

Oh! love him, think not of him lightly.

Cheer his heart, let it not be oppressed;

Love your mother, but don't forget father,

Let the one with the other be blessed.

Chorus.

—"The true way to advance in holy virtues is to persevere in a holy cheerfulness."

— St. Philip Neri

—"No one heals himself by wounding another."

— St. Ambrose

—A preacher was standing at the pulpit giving his Sunday sermon when a note was passed to him. The only word written on the sheet was "IDIOT."

Looking up at the congregation, the preacher smiled and said, "I have heard of men who write letters and forget to sign their names, but this is the first time I see a man signed his name and forget to write the letter."

(Staff writer Usalis can

be reached at jusalis@republicanherald.com)