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Dear Dad
In the quiet glow, the hearth holds warmth, and time slows down,
A moment carved in memory as the heart wears its crown.
He cleared a place on the kitchen table,
Took a strong nip of fiery resolve.
Told himself he’d set his hand to write,
The blank page stared him down and fright his hand less able,
Dear Dad, it’s taken me long to speak plain,
I’ve held these words far too long.
Thank you for your gentle and steady ways,
For inspiring my fix-it curiosity,
And for the love and trust you afforded me,
You’ve never set yourself as number one,
And that’s the same man I want to become.
His father read the letter with steady heartfelt nod,
And water welled up quiet in the old man’s eyes.
He cursed himself for holding feelings tight to his chest,
But felt a quiet joy as truth long buried came to rest.
Dear Dad, it’s taken me long to speak plain,
I’ve held these words far too long.
Thank you for your gentle and steady ways,
For inspiring my fix-it curiosity,
And for the love and trust you afforded me,
You’ve never set yourself as number one,
And that’s the same man I want to become.
From here we'll always speak the truth,
No matter if it's joyful or awkward consequence.
We'll just say it loud from now and hence,
My heart will speak with love’s honest recompense.
Dear Dad, it’s taken me long to speak plain,
I’ve held these words far too long.
Thank you for your gentle and steady ways,
For inspiring my fix-it curiosity,
And for the love and trust you afforded me,
You’ve never set yourself as number one,
And that’s the same man I want to become.
STORY BOARD
SONG OVERVIEW
Written and produced by Tasmanian Songwriter Jason Bresnehan, Dear Dad is an Irish folk letter from a son to his father, exploring the inherited tendency of men to express love through actions rather than words. At its heart, the song is a tribute to quiet fatherhood, gratitude and the courage required to finally speak truths that have remained unspoken for many years.
I wrote this song as a gift to my Dad, Tim.
The song examines the emotional distance often created not by a lack of love, but by an inability to express that love openly.
THE SCENE
A man sits alone at a kitchen table late in life. The cottage is in Limerick, Ireland circa 1840 and the room is familiar and comforting. The hearth is warm, the house is quiet and, for perhaps the first time in years, there are no distractions left between him and his thoughts. For decades he has carried words of gratitude he has never spoken aloud. Tonight, he decides to write them down. The blank page before him becomes the final obstacle, not because he does not know what to say, but because saying it makes him vulnerable.
THE NARRATOR
The narrator begins as an observer, describing a man attempting to write a letter to his father. As the song progresses, however, the distance between narrator and subject gradually disappears. By the chorus, the listener realises the narrator is the son himself. What began as storytelling becomes confession, and what seemed like someone else's story becomes deeply personal.
PURPOSE
The purpose of Dear Dad is to explore gratitude that has remained unspoken for too long. The song examines why many men find it easier to demonstrate love through actions rather than words and what happens when those feelings are finally expressed. It functions both as a thank-you letter and as a reminder that important things should be said while there is still time to say them.
IDENTITY
The identity theme centres on fathers and sons. The song asks what qualities we inherit from our parents, how men express love when words are difficult and which values are worth carrying into the next generation. The answer is found not in wealth, status or achievement, but in quiet character, selflessness, integrity and example. The father's influence is revealed not through grand gestures but through the life he lived and the values he passed forward.
MOVEMENT
Movement is expressed through emotional release. The song begins with hesitation as the son stares at a blank page, uncertain how to begin. The page symbolises vulnerability, fear and the emotional risk that comes with saying what truly matters. As the letter is written and read, decades of unspoken gratitude gradually find expression. The journey moves from silence to honesty, from gratitude to expression and from inheritance to intention, ending with a commitment not to leave important words unsaid in the future.
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Dear Dad was written as an Irish folk ballad built around conversational storytelling, warm acoustic instrumentation and emotional restraint. The arrangement avoids melodrama and instead creates an intimate atmosphere where the lyric remains the centrepiece. The focus is on authenticity rather than performance, allowing the listener to feel as though they are sitting at the table beside the narrator as the letter is being written.
NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE
The song was inspired in part by narrative techniques used by Kenny Chesney and other great storytellers who begin with observational distance before revealing personal involvement. The opening verses create separation between the listener and the subject. As the story unfolds, that separation collapses and the listener discovers they have been hearing the son's own story all along. This gradual shift makes the emotional confession land with greater weight.
THE BLANK PAGE
The blank page serves as one of the song's central symbols. It represents the difficulty many people experience when trying to express emotions they have carried for years. The obstacle is not a lack of love but a reluctance to be vulnerable. The son knows exactly how he feels, yet struggles with the act of putting those feelings into words. In this sense, the blank page becomes a metaphor for every important conversation postponed through fear, awkwardness or habit.
SONG MESSAGE
Love should not be left unspoken. Actions matter, but words matter too. Dear Dad argues that gratitude becomes most powerful when it is expressed while there is still an opportunity to share it. The song encourages honest conversations, even when they feel uncomfortable, and reminds listeners that some of the most meaningful words are often the ones we delay the longest.
SONGWRITER NOTES
Dear Dad was inspired by the observation that many fathers and sons genuinely love one another yet often struggle to communicate those feelings directly. The song is not simply a tribute to a father. It is also a reflection on courage. The greatest challenge faced by the narrator is not writing the letter itself. The greatest challenge is finding the courage to begin.
There is something universal about the blank page. Many people know exactly what they would like to say to a parent, mentor, child or loved one, yet years can pass before those words are spoken. Often there is no conflict. No estrangement. No lack of affection. Just a habit of assuming there will always be more time.
At its heart, Dear Dad is a song about speaking plainly, expressing gratitude and ensuring that important words are not left unsaid. It reminds us that the people who shape our lives deserve to hear what they meant to us, not simply have it assumed.