Today’s post was written by Paul.
Holly Dunn released “Daddy’s Hands” in 1986. I was just 12 years old at the time. The song went all the way to number 7 and made Ms. Dunn very popular for a number of years.
I remember that my impression of Holly Dunn as a kid was that she didn’t seem flashy. She seemed down to earth, like a girl I might know from church.
A quick Google search shows that my young instincts were spot on: she is a preacher’s daughter, and she wrote this beautiful, moving song as a Father’s Day gift to him. I bet he cried like a baby when she first sang it for him, that is if she could keep from crying herself long enough to sing it.
Anyone who was blessed with a loving father or father figure can relate to this song.
A few years after the song came out, my first cousin, Maria Campbell (who has appeared on the Blind Pig & the Acorn YouTube channel several times) found and bought a karaoke tape of it, meaning the tape featured just the music and background vocals, with no lead vocal.
Around that time, she and I had recorded a couple of songs on my Tascam 4-track, and she brought me the karaoke cassette and asked me if I could record her singing the song. I was eager to do it, and it was very easy. I just copied the two-track karaoke recording onto the first two tracks of the Tascam, which left me two empty tracks for Maria’s voice. Maria was so good, even back then as a teen, that she only needed one track and one take. That meant I had one track left.
I remember we recorded it in Granny’s basement. After she recorded her part, I told Maria that I would mix it all down for her onto a standard 2-track cassette tape, then she left. Since I had an empty track left, I put on some headphones to see if I could sing harmony with her voice. That too was pretty easy, though I’m a tad off here and there. Then I wondered if I could add any instruments… My best friend at the time was a boy named Lee Tanner, and Lee’s dad, Junior, sometimes played around on a harmonica when I was over at Lee’s.
Junior gave me a Hohner Harmonica in the key of D. It was the only harmonica that I owned for many years. I was glad to get it and try to learn to play it, even though it was a little gross playing someone else’s harmonica, especially someone who dipped snuff! I rinsed it out the best I could, but I don’t think I ever got the insides very clean, and it always smelled like snuff. Let’s just say that I didn’t look forward to playing any “draw” notes (where you have to breathe in through the harmonica).
The upside to the harmonica was that it was well broken in over years of Junior playing it, which made it easier to get a good tone. When I started to add the harmonica, I immediately realized that it was not in tune with the karaoke track, though the track was also in the key of D. Of course, there’s no way to tune a harmonica, at least not a regular one. I was about to scrap the idea when I had a brainstorm. The Tascam had a pitch wheel. Rather than being a true pitch wheel, it could be turned to speed up or slow down the tape. I could tell that the harmonica was sharp in relation to the karaoke track, so I sped the tape up until it was in tune with the harmonica. Then I recorded the harmonica at that speed. When I mixed everything down to a regular 2-track cassette, I slowed everything back down to regular speed. Of course, the harmonica track and other tracks all slowed down (lowered in pitch) together, so everything was in tune, or at least pretty close. I panned the harmonica into the right speaker and the viola that plays in the karaoke track to the left speaker during the mix. I was surprised how well the harmonica blended with the viola.
To me, it almost sounded like the harmonica was part of the original music. I was really tickled by this because I knew the karaoke tracks were laid down by professional studio musicians. I was just a kid in a basement with a snuffy harmonica that I didn’t even really know how to play!
When I gave the final mix to Maria, she was surprised by the harmony vocal and the harmonica, though the two could never be heard at the same time (since they both had to go onto the same track on the Tascam and take turns).
The fathers that appear in the video are Pap, Uncle Ray (Maria’s dad), Uncle Henry (Pap’s youngest brother), Uncle Lucky (Granny’s brother), Matt’s father Tony, Matt, and Austin.
It took me days to find this cassette because I never wrote the song title on the outside of the tape. I was about to give up when I found it. I’m glad that I did because it’s absolutely perfect for Father’s Day. I thank God for my father, my father’s father, and all the wonderful fathers and father figures God created.
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
The Wilson Brothers Words of Life Album released in the 70s.
Thank you. I needed this today.
That was absolutely beautiful.
This song made me cry. I shared it with my brother and sisters earlier today. We all miss our dad so much since he passed last January. I wish I could give him a Father’s Day hug one more time. Our children and grandchildren are all away on vacation this weekend…so hubby and I took a drive to Pocahontas county and took a ride on the big steam engine at Cass Railroad. We enjoyed the beautiful drive, and the train ride too. We treated ourselves to a milkshake in their little gift shop. It was a fun day for us both. I hope all fathers here on the Blind Pig, including Matt, Austin, Steve and Tony had a wonderful day as well. Blessings to all.
God bless you Brenda!!
Another song that causes me to pause and react similarly is, “BIBLE and the BELT”, by Joey & Rory. My father crossed over 2 1/2 years ago just short of his 90th birthday. That song accurately reflects my upbringing when I was young. Now, pushing 68, I am so thankful that he did.
Tom- I just listened to Joey and Rory’s song. It is wonderful too. I always liked their singing.
Thank you for the beautiful song and the tribute to Dad’s! ❤️
Oh my, what a beautiful song! It brought me to tears this morning because it describes my dad to a “T.” Daddy was a quiet, strong, Godly man from the Greatest Generation. He led by example … always kind, thoughtful, truthful, and slow to anger. I wish everyone could have a dad like him. Thank you, Paul, so much for recording and sharing this wonderful song as well as your story with us. I enjoyed it so much.
This was beautiful!
Paul, that was beautiful and I loved the slide show that accompanied it. I’m amazed that you knew how to do such mixing and engineering when you were young! Sure do miss my daddy and my father in law.
Thank you Paul, what a blessing!
Beautifully written post, Paul.
I always enjoy hearing Maria sing. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Thanks, Paul. Great song. My Dad passed in 2002 and I still miss him every day. We headed for a great reunion one day soon. ♥️ Hope you’re enjoying your retirement! Love to all from SC.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful song and the history of the recording with us, Paul. I really enjoyed the picture slideshow while listening. Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers here and also to Matt and Austin. All of the stories of dads written here today touched my heart. Thank you for sharing about your fathers with us!
That was beautiful. Made me tear up. My dad is not well an it just hit home. Thank you so much. God Bless your family ❤️
Thank you! Blessings shared are blessings multiplied. I enjoyed the reflections and the music. ♡
Paul, what a beautiful gift for all of us. Thank you for sharing this song and video for Father’s Day. You and Maria did such a fine job with this. Happy Father’s Day to you as well. Kind, caring Uncles are a blessing !
Watching the video, Pap playing with the younger generations, I wondered if either of the little boys has shown an interest in playing or singing music? Enjoy the day!
We hope they will be musical 🙂
My kids treat me as if it were Fathers Day every day of the year. They come to visit me when they can and call me twice a day, every day! Who could have it better than that?
awe! So wonderful to showcase your Daddy today. I love this. My Daddy was one of a kind too. So many great memories for us. Thankyou Paul!
What a beautiful song, you did a great job Paul! My father passed alway in 2002 and I still miss him.
God bless you and comfort you Linda
Beautiful tribute! Made my eyes water. Thank you, Paul and Tipper!
Oh my goodness, I am crying listening to this. I remember hearing this in 1986 . I took care of my Dad then, he had cancer. I sat by his bedside and held his hand and thought of this song, it takes me back. He died from the cancer. This is a beautiful song and a wonderful tribute to all Fathers on this Fathers Day. I am 78 years old now and still my Daddy. Maria, you have a God given voice, and Paul you do too. Thank you. Happy Father`s Day to all Fathers.
That was beautiful
Maria is incredible…….and your arrangment is beyond incredible, Paul. Thank you. I lost my Daddy 45 years ago and like your dad, he was a man’s man and his hands showed it. But there is no other hand in this world that I’d rather hold. I miss him.
Marie’s voice is amazing as she belts out a song that surely had deep meaning to her. There was always love in my daddy’s hands, even though I didn’t know as a child how hard those hands worked picking coal out of a mountain to provide for a family he loved. What I wouldn’t give to see those hands one more time!
Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads out there!
My Daddy Ricky Tuggle, introduced me to Jesus. He’s been a wonderful Daddy and full of wonderful advice. My Dad Tommy Phillips, my stepdad is amazing as well. He married my Mama when I was 3. He’s always been there and taught me so much. God blessed me with two men to show me what a man should be.
Paul, that was wonderful and a great tribute to the Daddy’s in your musically talented family. Maria has a beautiful voice. And your singing and playing as well as your production is appreciated. All that information on how you did it is interesting but way over my head! Sharing that song reminds me of the phrase, “anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a daddy”. I have been fortunate to have wonderful daddies in my family. They aren’t perfect but are treasured. I wish all the Blind Pig fathers a very happy Father’s Day.
I watched the video last night and enjoyed seeing so many wonderful pictures of the many fathers in your life. I recognized Pap, Matt and Austin. I thought Steve was in one picture, but he must favor your uncle you included. I was thrilled to see Austin holding little Woodrow because we very seldom see Woodrow or Ira in videos at least their full face. With how things are now days, I completely understand why, besides when they get older they can decide if they want to be on videos or not. But it was sweet to see Austin holding him. Thank you for sharing about the song, the writers name and some information about her. It’s very impressive how you laid down the track with Maria singing it. I’m not musical at all, but I sure do enjoy music. You did a great job as a teenager and if you hadn’t told us you were a teenager when you did it, none of us would have ever known.
Today’s post took me back 65 years to a time when I was into reel-to-reel tape recording. I owned a Grundig and a friend had a Wollensak. We double recorded our voices and made a quartet. It was just for fun. I still have the tape but nothing to play it on. I sold my last recorder not long ago. It was a 4-track that wouldn’t play my old 2-track tapes anyway.
My dad was 86 when he passed in 2001 and we miss him so much. I remember how much his strong hands fascinated me when I was little because they looked so much bigger and stronger than my little girl hands! Dad was a Florida farm boy and WWII vet. He always had a garden, made friends easily, worked hard, and loved us fiercely. Happy Father’s Day, daddy!
Wow! You did it again Paul, left me in the musical dust. I didn’t follow any of the technical design ription. But I got the result. You did a fine thing for Maria to make the tape and an equally fine thing to explain its creation even to those like me who couldn’t follow along. The song and the story makes a person think about their fathers and – if it fits – being one. I read an article this morning that said fatherhood changes a Dad. I had o smile a little. You reckon? By the way, I’m guessing that was Pap’s hands holding the corn and the corn was Hickory Kane?
My Dad was rather reserved and self-contained. He could be hard much more easily than he could be soft. I never felt like I understood him well, nor – I expect – did he me. I regret that. I think he probably did to. Seems that is often the way with fathers and sons; too much alike to agree and too different to be close. Another one of the mysteries of life.
It is Pap’s hands but silver queen corn 🙂
Thank you, Paul. For me, this is the best post you have put out all year. This was a beautiful reminder of what a true daddy is all about.
Morning everyone. I was one of those lucky people with a wonderful dad. No, he didn’t tell stories, or have long conversations. He rarely spoke, was always working or doing something for someone. He would show up at my door with a plate of apple pancakes, give me his wink (he didn’t do it to any one else) and be off. No visit, no words. I’m not the most curious person and I can figure most thing out. A lot of people didn’t understand him. Me? I did. Work hard, go to church, lazy is bad, be faithful. Pretty simple. How was he raised? In Poland. His father died when he was 2. His mom worked hard so he was raised by a not so nice aunt. The Natzi’s came to Poland and forced him to do hard labor. That part could have been much worse. Luckily he escaped to Scotland and England. Met my mom who had fled from Romania. Went to Canada were my sister and me were born, then America where my brother was born. He continued to work hard, go to church and put up with a not so nice wife. He never complained went to church and helped neighbors. He did take up the harmonica, and wood carving. I’d say he enjoyed being retired. Was he happy? He had a really good life that hard work built. I remember only once I asked him why he didn’t talk about the past. He said when we came to America he became an American. That’s who he is. In my opinion. The best dad is someone like that. Who stays instead of runs away. Who doesn’t say so many useless words. Doesn’t talk people out of their dreams, but helps when he can. And never dwelled on the bad things. It is getting harder to find people like that. Or a dad like that. Anna from Arkansas.
I remember when that song came out Paul and I had a fantastic God fearing daddy who worked to take care of us and was a team with my mother. How blessed we were to have him and how I miss him now even though I know I will see him again. Beautiful song and you did a great job!! God bless you! Praying for Norman and Papaw Wade.
I haven’t heard that song since it came out. Just beautiful♡ When our daughter was 3, my ex dressed as Santa for Christmas Eve. My niece was only 2. It was a fabulous Santa suit and the girls were so excited to find the jolly old elf at the door with a bag of presents. When Nikki was sitting on her dad’s/Santa’s lap, she kept looking at and touching his hands(we didn’t even think about gloves!!) When Santa departed to carry on his mission, she looked at me and told me that Santa had hands just like Daddy’s!! Love that your post brought back this sweet memory! Happy Father’s day to all of the men out there who have played an important role in a child’s life♡
Thank you so much for posting this, Paul. I miss my dad so much. He died in 1972 at the young age of 43 of a massive heart attack. I was 23 and was in my second year of teaching at a school sixty miles from home. He left my mother and my 3 sisters, ages 17, 15, and 11. We were all devastated. At the time, I was on my own and thought I knew more than my dad. I never really appreciated him and all he sacrificed for me and for the rest of my family. Today, I am 77 years old. Dad has been gone almost 54 years now. I would love to be able to tell him how sorry I am for being so ungrateful and that I love and miss him so much. The only consolation I have is that I know that one day in the future I will be reunited with my father(and mother) and will be able to tell him exactly what I was unable to tell him while he was here and that I loved him and still do. Thanks again for the song, Paul. It fits my dad to a tee.
Dad passed away this past Friday morning, today is the first day of firsts for the rest of the next year. I miss him terribly, but he’s no longer suffering from ALS, he has a new body, he’s in heaven with Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many many friends.
Happy Father’s Day to the Dad’s!!!
I’m so sorry. I will pray for you all!!
may the good Lord give you some kind of Peace about the passing of your father
I enjoyed the video Paul, you and Maria singing, I enjoyed all the pictures, it was a great presentation, Happy Father’s Day to everybody, God bless you very much
Thank you, I loved my Daddy and still miss him so much.
Beautiful song!!! Words so true!!! Thank you for sharing your musical abilities with us.
Hi Paul. I was so blessed to have my Daddy and my Father-In-Law. When Daddy passed away my oldest sister wouldn’t allow a viewing. I snuck into the funeral home and got to see Daddy one last time. I took a photo of his hands as he lay in his coffin, dressed in his Army uniform that he had given to me for safe keeping, stripped of all of his medals. I realized while he was laying there that his hands were what I wanted to remember the most. They stood out in my memories. Ever loving, caring, building, correcting, protecting, giving, encouraging, gentle and strong. My love for him and his for me were forever in his hands. Just like the love from my Heavenly Father, Forever.
This song always makes me cry. My daddy had strong, tough, but handsome hands. I held them as he went home. Thank you for sharing this beautiful song. Y’all did a wonderful job! Happy Father’s Day to all you dads! I’m grateful for a Heavenly Father who gave His life for me!
I was lucky, I had both a Daddy and a Farther in Law that were the best in my mind. My Daddy passed in 1991 and my Father in Law in 2013, I miss both of them badly. I remember when this song by Holly came out in 1986 and my wife crying anytime she heard Holly sing it. I have tried to be that same type of daddy and granddaddy to my family but feel like I have failed and came up short.
My Daddy was the best! I was only 20 when he went to heaven, but he taught me so much in those years. I’m 80, so he’s been gone 60 years, but I think of him every day. I’ve always loved this song even though it makes me sad. Your version is really special!!
I love this song. My daddy died June, 2000, a few days after he turned 75. He had not been sick so it was for me and my family when he suddenly died. I miss him so much. Thanks for a great song, so appropriate for today, Father’s Day.
I had one of those amazing Dads too! How blessed we’ve been! My Dad passed away in 2013 and I miss him terribly. I’ve always loved this song and y’all did a beautiful job with it!