A Father-Son Baseball Anthem

by MG on August 10, 2021

Best Dad Song

This simple but powerful song ties three generations together with the simple game of catch serving as a the thread that unites them on their “field of dreams”. It centers around the relationship between a man, his father and son over their lives. It paints a scenic picture of the passing of values, sharing dreams, working through challenging times and celebrating life in all stages.

I wrote this song as a reflection of my relationship with my dad. I hope it provides you a moment of peace, a smile or maybe a connection as you look for a song to help define or inspire the relationship you have, had or desire.

Field of Dreams – lyric video

Is it time for a new dad song?

There’s a good handful of songs praising dads as referenced in these Billboard and Great American Country articles but many are father-daughter songs. A majority of the father-son songs are about relationship conflicts or of loss where the father or son dies.

We are in need of stronger and more positive father-son songs. I believe “Field of Dreams” is that song.

How “Field of Dreams” frames up in comparison to other dad songs. Its:

The antithesis of “Cats in the Cradle” with the father being there for his son
“I Drive Your Truck” without the loss
“Don’t Stop Believin‘” for special relationships with their dad
The father’s comforting presence in “Solsbury Hill“
The father’s influence of “Your Dad Did“
Its “Butterfly Kisses” but for dads and sons

“Hey, Dad… You wanna have a catch?”

Catch: its the process between two or more people partnering with each other to move a ball back and forth to each participant. Its simple, there are no rules, no score, time restrictions, or requirements of type of field or ball. The ball can be thrown or kicked. Talent levels adapt to each other.

The act of playing catch can provide a profound connection for those involved as they create their unique rhythm, as perfect or broken as it may be, with each other.

This famous and important “catch” scene from the movie “Field of Dreams” illustrates the emotional connection it can bring and helps set the stage for this song. Below are some of the comments that illustrate the emotional impact this scene has:

This scene makes grown men cry because we see a man reconcile with his father and show him that he loves him after years of distance and anger. In real life it’s not always that easy, and many men are painfully aware when watching this clip that they’ll never have a reconciliation with their own fathers the way these two men do in this movie.
In my opinion this is one of the greatest movie’s ever made. Yes it’s about baseball, father’s and sons and dreams but it’s primarily about second chances. All of us can relate to that and for most of us who are getting older and have lost our dads this scene still resonates 25 years later.
Lost my dad when I was 14 now I am 48 and I still wish I could have a catch with him, just one more time. I have played pro ball but nothing will ever take the place of a catch with my dad.
I weep like a little school girl when he says, “Hey…Dad? You wanna have a catch?
If you don’t cry while watching this scene, you’re inhuman.
26 years later, “Hey Dad? You wanna have a catch”, gets me every time.
OMG, this makes every man cry
If there was ever a film that could make any man cry, this is it.
Dad, you want to have a catch? If that doesn’t make you cry, nothing will.
I miss playing catch with my dad.
It reminds me of all the wonderful times I shared with my loving father. I still miss him and know my son would have loved his grandfather who unfortunately never got to meet. This never fails to bring a tear to my eye, and that’s very rare.

May you find peace in your Field of Dreams

My hope and wish for you: Whether the relationship with your dad or child(ren) are here with us physically or in spirit, may it bring you love, strength, peace, hope and healing.

As the closing lyrics of “Field of Dreams” reflect on the hope for one last chance of being together:

Before the sun sets
Lets go where to the grass is green
And lets play a game of catch
On our field of dreams

I hope you may find the green fields, whether physically or in your mind’s eye, and play that game of catch with your dad or your child.

-MG

Please feel free to share

I wrote this song as I reflected about the journey my dad and I went through. I hope it can provide others some hope, peace, inspiration or a way to say the words they could not find. If you feel it would help others, please feel free to share.

My dream for “Field of Dreams”:

The Father’s Day theme song
A song for when families don’t know how to say what is needed to say
A song that encourages families to do more simple things together (whatever their game of catch is)
A song that plays over the loudspeakers of every baseball game