'Dads Don't Die' by Nate Smith - Lyrics & Meaning

Since exploding onto the scene with his breakout hit single, 'Whiskey On You,' Nate Smith has made quite the name for himself thanks to his boozy breakup anthems.

However, behind the party guy also lies a deeply empathetic man with plenty of vulnerable stories to share. With his newest single, 'Dads Don't Die,' Smith offers up a touching tribute to a father's love just in time for Father's Day.

Produced by Joël Bruyère, 'Dad's Don't Die' is a rare outside cut for the California native. With writing credits featuring the trio of Marc Beeson, Allen Shamblin & Emily Weisband, the song hits the sweet spot of deeply poignant lyricism and soaring, arena ready production.

A simple piano ballad, the song swells around the choruses as Smith's gravelly, honey-dipped vocals carry its moving message.

"You can cover him in flowers
And carve his name into a stone
Let your brother have his toolbox
And keep his number in your phone
Leave tears on the bathroom floor
Case he ain't here anymore but"

The song begins seemingly in the aftermath of a funeral as flowers are laid and the gravestone is carved.

As the two sons of the deceased divvy up their father's belongings, it's a picture of grief in the face of deep loss and it's an unfortunate universal experience that we will all share one day.

"Dads don't die
They still make you laugh
Still make you cry
Still make you mad the day it dawns
That you were wrong and he was right
Dads don't die
And neither does the love they leave behind
That's the holy truth I hold on to
Until I see you in the next life
Where there's no pain
No goodbyes
And dads don't die"

While their physical bodies may fade away, Smith explains that their spirit and their love never does. Even after they're gone, they still live on in our memories and in our thoughts, and somehow still find ways to teach us along the way.

Beyond that, we can find solace in the fact that we will see them again in the next life and in heaven, where no one dies and there is no pain.

"I see his blue eyes in the mirror
And in the crooked way I smile
And he'll be with me in my dreams
Pushing me on a tire swing
Still making me feel like I could fly"

Drawing comparisons to him and his father, Smith goes on to explain that his dad is always with him because of the blue eyes and crooked smile that he inherited from him.

What's more, he and his dad still get time together in his dreams at night as he reminisces on their times together.

"Dads don't die
They still make you laugh
Still make you cry
Still make you mad the day it dawns
That you were wrong and he was right
Dads don't die
And neither does the love they leave behind
That's the holy truth I hold on to
Until I see you in the next life
Where there's no pain
No goodbyes
And dads don't die"

In the lead up to the song's release, Nate Smith shared a touching tribute to his father.

In the heartfelt Instagram caption, he wrote, “Dads Don't Die... they live on through us and with us. Whether you've lost your dad, need to forgive your dad, or miss your dad, this song is for you. Dad, I love you so much. Don't ever leave me.”

You can cover him in flowers
And carve his name into a stone
Let your brother have his toolbox
And keep his number in your phone
Leave tears on the bathroom floor
Case he ain't here anymore but

Dads don't die
They still make you laugh
Still make you cry
Still make you mad the day it dawns
That you were wrong and he was right
Dads don't die
And neither does the love they leave behind
That's the holy truth I hold on to
Until I see you in the next life
Where there's no pain
No goodbyes
And dads don't die

I see his blue eyes in the mirror
And in the crooked way I smile
And he'll be with me in my dreams
Pushing me on a tire swing
Still making me feel like I could fly

Dads don't die
They still make you laugh
Still make you cry
Still make you mad the day it dawns
That you were wrong and he was right
Dads don't die
And neither does the love they leave behind
That's the holy truth I hold on to
Until I see you in the next life
Where there's no pain
No goodbyes
And dads don't die

Dads don't die
Even if they let you down sometimes
There's gonna come a day you understand
That he was just a man
And you turned out alright
Dads don't die
And neither does the love they leave behind
That's the holy truth I hold on to
Until I see you in the next life
Where there's no pain
No goodbyes
And dads don't die

Dads don't die, yeah

--

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