5 Songs That Depict Difficult Parent-Child Relationships | Playlist 🎧

1. Nicholas Tomillon, “To My Father”

🎵 “To My Father” • 🏷 Millennial • 🗓 2018

“You would rip off the sheets / Right as you came in my room / Then you would throw me around / Like I meant nothing to you.” Damn. Before any lyrics are sung on 🎵“To My Father,” it’s clear that this alternative record from rising teen singer/songwriter 🎙 Nicholas Tomillon is an incredibly authentic, yet moody and troubling listen. Tomillon depicts a truly tough relationship with his father, expressing feelings of a lack of safety, support, and love.

Chocked-full of ‘affecting’ lyrics, among the most affecting appears near the end of the record:

“And now the sound of your screams still rattle in my brain
You’re like a medieval demon rushing through my veins
Ain’t got a moment to weep cause you’re the one to blame
You make me feel insane.”

Despite the adversity, there is a silver lining for Tomillon, per his interview with The Musical Hype:

“Not only has this song helped me, but people message me every day, whether it be to tell me how much they love the song, or how much they can relate to it, and how it has given them a sense of hope and understanding of the fact that they are not alone.”

2. Demi Lovato, “Daddy Issues”

💿 Tell Me You Love Me • 🏷 Hollywood / Island • 🗓 2017

🎵“Daddy Issues” is arguably the most ‘eyebrow-raising’ song from 🎙Demi Lovato’s sixth studio album, 💿Tell Me You Love Me. In the context of the album, Lovato continues to be unapologetic to the nth degree. Interestingly, an early f-bomb is censored, regardless of amended or explicit editions.

The chorus specifically is where the eyebrows are raised:

“Lucky for you, I got all these daddy issues
What can I do?
I’m going crazy when I’m with you
Forget all the therapy that I’ve been through.”

Does Lovato over-sexualize daddy issues? Arguably, but beyond the modern production and sexual tilt, there’s a personal aspect.  Lovato legitimately had a rocky relationship with her late father, Patrick Lovato.

3. MNEK, “Crazy World”

💿 Language • 🏷 Virgin • 🗓 2018

🎵“Crazy World” features unique, quirky, and somewhat gimmicky production.  The record sounds different from the norm, keeping things both fresh and interesting.  “Crazy World” features a busy groove, colorful synths, and epic backing vocals. 🎙MNEK delivers a fantastic vocal performance, sounding distinct, pure, soulful, and beautiful on this highlight from 💿Language.

One of his best moments arrives on the third verse, where he not only delivers those sensational and expressive runs, but also speaks on the homophobia of a father towards his gay son:

“A father is disappointed by his son…
He’s told him that he’s in love with someone
Less her and more him
He’s coming out, he can’t keep it in.”

4. Arcade Fire, “We Exist”

💿 Reflektor • 🏷 Arcade Fire • 🗓 2013

Arguably the most transcendent song from the 2013 🎙Arcade Fire album 💿Reflektor is 🎵“We Exist,” a song  the band claims “is a reaction to [Jamaica’s] notoriously antigay culture”. Taken from the perspective a boy who realizes he’s gay, he struggles with acceptance from the world and fears the reaction of his father.

“But we exist
Daddy it’s true
I’m different from you
But tell me why they treat me like this?
If you turned away
What would I say?
Not the first betrayed by a kiss.”

Somewhat different than some of the relationships, the father’s reaction seems supportive, giving his son sound advice:

“Maybe it’s true
They’re staring at you
When you walk in the room
Tell ‘em it’s fine
Stare if you like.”

The protagonist goes on to depict discrimination, while still being most concerned about losing his father’s support.

5. Sufjan Stevens, “All of Me Wants All of You”

💿 Carrie & Lowell • 🏷 Asthmatic Kitty • 🗓 2015

“You checked your texts while I masturbated.”  Hmm, what does this eyebrow-raising, sexually-tinged lyric have to do with a difficult parent-child relationship? Taken out of context, nothing, but in the context of 🎙Sufjan Stevens’ masterful 🎵“All of Me Wants All of You,” it’s a perfect snapshot of the rocky relationship between Stevens and his late mother, Carrie. Ultimately, the lyric is one of many emotional reactions that appear throughout the album.  His relationship with his mother was filled with strain, distance, and lack of closeness.  Obviously, breaking down the lyric, Stevens resorts to ‘self-love’ because his mom seem totally unconcerned and uninterested in him.