"Father" - Featuring Diane Kelly Lyrics

Copyright ©2006 Written by: Andrea Emmes & Richard Smith - Additional Vocals: Richard Smith, Diane Kelly

About the song

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In college, I had a friend who was being abused by her mother who professed to be a strong Christian and it tore me up inside to see my friend suffer. This song is actually me writing this to her mother as if to say this is how you should view your child and how you should seek God in how to raise your child. A child is a gift and a big responsibility from God not to be taken lightly or taken for granted. It started out as a poem called, “Lord, Hear My Prayer” which was published in 1994. After I left college and moved to Orlando, I met up with my now good friend and writing partner, Richard Smith and we wanted to write together and I had this poem and he had this music and we just combined the two together and it turned into the song “Father”. We finished “Father” in 1995 and I’ve had it shelved for 11 years, and now it’s the first track of my debut album. It's one of my favorite songs on the album.

Lyrics

Verse
Lonely eyes of a child
They see with naïve sight
They fantasize, exaggerate, dream with great delight
You've granted me the chance to teach the child
What is right from wrong
Pray mistakes won't be made
Guide him where he belongs

Pre Chorus
Memories we'll make together
Will last a lifetime now
Forever in my heart
I know (I know)
We'll make it through some how

Chorus
Father, help me guide my child
Let Your light shine
Erase all my fears
Descend Your gift of wisdom (yeah)
And teach my child to be righteous
Right from the start

Verse 
My child is older now
We're seeing troubled times
Unsure what tomorrow holds
His faith we cannot find
I'm trying hard to teach the child (what is wrong from right)
I pray to You oh God my Lord That he'll see the light

Pre Chorus 
Memories we'll make together 
Will last a lifetime now 
Forever in my heart 
I know (I know) 
We'll make it through some how 

Chorus 
Father, help me guide my child (As he grows in years)
Let Your light shine
Erase all my fears (erase all his fears)
Descend Your gift of wisdom (yeah)
And teach my child to be righteous
Right from the start

Choir
Shine down Your light
Make it alright
Descend Your gift of wisdom
Teach this child, oh teach this child
To be righteous from the start
Shine down Your light
Make it alright
Descend Your gift of wisdom
Teach this child, oh teach this child
To be righteous from the start
Shine down Your light
Make it alright Oo--Ah ah ah

Choir & Prayer (spoken)
(Father) Heavenly Father
Descend Your great gift of wisdom
To fall upon my heart (As he grows in years)
So I may teach my son
To be righteous From the very start
And when my (Erase all my fears) time on this earth Has come to its conclusion
Please continue to guide my child
Out of the world's confusion
Amen
​(and teach my child oo Father As he grows in years Erase all his fears And teach my child oo)