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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 a traditional Irish folk ballad built around warm acoustic strings, fiddle melodies, gentle folk rhythms and a heartfelt male vocal performance. The song tells the story of a son finally finding the words to thank his father for a lifetime of quiet leadership, trust, sacrifice and example.
The lyrics centre on a simple letter written after years of unspoken gratitude. Rather than focusing on dramatic moments, the song celebrates the ordinary qualities that often leave the deepest impact: reliability, humility, steady guidance and unconditional support. At its heart, Dear Dad is an expression of appreciation from one generation to another.
WORDS LONG HELD
The central theme of the song is not the writing of a letter but the release of words that have remained unspoken for many years. The narrator knows exactly what he wants to say, yet struggles to place those thoughts onto paper. The challenge is not finding the feelings. The challenge is expressing them.
The opening image of a son sitting alone at a kitchen table captures a familiar experience. Many people find it easier to work, solve problems and face practical challenges than they do to speak openly about love, gratitude and admiration. The song explores the courage required to finally say those things aloud.
FATHERS AND SONS
The heart of the song sits inside the chorus:
"You've never set yourself as number one,
And that's the same man I want to become."
Rather than celebrating achievement, wealth or status, the lyric honours character. The father is presented as a man who consistently placed others before himself, creating a model that the son now seeks to follow.
The second verse provides the emotional response. When the father reads the letter, years of unspoken understanding finally find expression. The song recognises that fathers and sons often understand one another deeply, even when they struggle to communicate it directly.
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Dear Dad combines fingerpicked acoustic guitar, traditional Irish folk instrumentation, fiddle melodies, tin whistle flourishes and gentle rhythmic accompaniment to create a warm and intimate atmosphere. The arrangement remains grounded in classic Irish storytelling traditions, allowing the narrative and vocal performance to remain the focus throughout.
As the song develops, fiddle and whistle responses weave between the vocal lines while subtle bass and percussion provide momentum beneath the story. The male lead vocal is delivered with honesty and restraint, building naturally into the emotional peaks of the chorus before resolving into a heartfelt and reflective conclusion.
THE ARTWORK
The artwork depicts a young man seated alone at a rustic timber table illuminated by the soft glow of an oil lamp. A feather quill rests in his hand as he contemplates the blank page before him. Simple cookware, timber walls and warm natural colours create the atmosphere of a traditional Irish cottage, while the evening light entering through the small window reinforces the sense of quiet reflection.
The image perfectly captures the opening scene of the song. Before the words can be read, they must first be written. The young man appears caught between thought and action, searching for the courage to place deeply held feelings onto paper. The warm light, simple surroundings and contemplative mood reinforce the song's themes of family, heritage, gratitude and honest communication.
PERSONAL CONNECTION TO JASON BRESNEHAN SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER
The personal connection behind Dear Dad comes directly from Jason Bresnehan's relationship with his father and his family's Irish heritage. Jason's father has always enjoyed Irish folk music, making the genre a natural home for a song built around family, memory and gratitude.
The song is also connected to the Bresnehan family's Irish ancestry. Jason is a descendant of John Bresnehan, an Irish convict from Brosna, a small village in County Kerry, who married Ellen and Irish maid. Those Irish roots have remained an important part of the family's story, making the traditional Irish folk style particularly appropriate for this piece.
At a personal level, the song reflects Jason's appreciation for the values he inherited from his father. Curiosity, practical problem-solving, humility, reliability and quiet service to others were not taught through speeches or instruction manuals. They were demonstrated through example. Dear Dad became an opportunity to say thank you for those lessons and to acknowledge the influence they continue to have on his life. The song ultimately celebrates the enduring impact that a good father can have across generations.