About The Song
“Father Figure” is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael from his debut studio album, Faith (1987). It was released on 28 December 1987 as the album’s fourth single by Columbia Records. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. Additionally it was a top 5 hit in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain.
Michael had this to say on the genesis of “Father Figure”:
The initial concept was totally different from the way the song turned out. In fact, the initial concept for ‘Father Figure’ was to make it a kind of mid-tempo dance track. And what happened was I wanted to hear something in my mix so I happened to cut out the snare on the board and suddenly it changed the whole entire mood of the track. Suddenly it seemed really dreamy. And this was halfway through writing it because I was writing the song as I was going along in the studio. And I just thought, well, hey, this is actually much better! So I worked the rest of the feel of the track around this spacey type sound. And it ended up, in my mind, being the most original-sounding thing on the album.
The song is an R&B ballad, and also features elements of Egyptian music and gospel. On the tracks origins Michael said:
It started off with a rhythm track with a snare, and when you play it like that it sounds a bit like Prince. But I must have been listening to it without the snare and gone, “Oh my God, that totally changes the record!” It suddenly becomes a gospel record.
Released in the United Kingdom in December 1987, “Father Figure” reached number eleven on the UK Singles Chart – the first time Michael had failed to reach the top ten in his home country.
In the United States, “Father Figure” debuted on 16 January 1988 at number 49, while “Faith” was still prominent (at number nine) in the top ten of the chart. “Father Figure” reached number one on 27 February 1988, staying at the top for two weeks. Altogether, the single spent 17 weeks in the chart.
Video
Lyrics
That’s all I wanted
Something special, something sacred
In your eyes
For just one moment
To be bold and naked
At your side
Sometimes I think that you’ll never
Understand me (Understand me)
Maybe this time is forever
Say it can be, whoa
That’s all you wanted
Something special, someone sacred
In your life
Just for one moment
To be warm and naked
At my side
Sometimes I think that you’ll never
Understand me (Understand me)
But something tells me together
We’d be happy, oh-oh, baby
I will be your father figure (Oh, baby)
Put your tiny hand in mine (I’d love to)
I will be your preacher teacher (Be your daddy)
Anything you have in mind (It would make me)
I will be your father figure (Very happy)
I have had enough of crime (Please let me)
I will be the one who loves you
‘Til the end of time (Of time)
That’s all I wanted
But sometimes love can be mistaken
For a crime
That’s all I wanted
Just to see my baby’s
Blue eyes shine
This time I think that my lover
Understands me
If we have faith in each other
Then we can be
Strong, baby
I will be your father figure
Put your tiny hand in mine (My baby)
I will be your preacher teacher
Anything you have in mind (Hee)
I will be your father figure
I have had enough of crime
I will be the one who loves you
‘Til the end of time
If you are the desert
I’ll be the sea
If you ever hunger
Hunger for me
Whatever you ask for
That’s what I’ll be
So when you remember the ones who have lied
Who said that they cared
But then laughed as you cried
Beautiful darling
Don’t think of me
Because all I ever wanted
It’s in your eyes
Baby
And love can’t lie, no
My love is always tellin’ me so
(Heaven is a kiss and a smile)
Just hold on, hold on
I won’t let you go, my baby
I will be your father figure
Put your tiny hand in mine
I will be your preacher teacher
Anything you have in mind, baby
I will be your father figure
I have had enough of crime
(So I am gonna love you)
‘Til the end of time
I will be your father (I will be your)
I will be your preacher (Father)
I will be your father (I’ll be your daddy, woah)
I will be the one who loves you
‘Til the end of time