This particular song was one of the first I ever wrote, with words and melody coming at the same time…I sat down at the piano and it just came pouring out. My son was very young, and in the room, which I didn’t know. At the end of writing it, I could hear someone crying…I turned around and saw my son, and in-between tears he said to me, “That’s your father!!” He had such empathy for me…it was really touching. It took many years after that before I let my Dad hear the song….and thankfully, my Dad and I had some wonderful times together before he passed away. Happy Father’s Day, Dad.

MY FATHER
by Jennifer Avalon & Noel Boland

A man of the ocean
Rugged and free
My father kept his distance from the family
His four mainland children
Would climb in the trees
But never climb onto their father’s knees

OH WHEN WILL I KNOW HIM
WHEN CAN I SEE
THE MAN I IMAGINE MY FATHER TO BE
AS WE BOTH GROW OLDER
CAN HE BE MY FRIEND
OR WILL WE BE STRANGERS ‘ TIL THE VERY END

A memory of dancing
On solid ice
My father took me skating maybe twice
I practised without him
So he’d be proud
But he never saw me, falling down

OH WHEN WILL I KNOW HIM
WHEN CAN I SEE
THE MAN I IMAGINE MY FATHER TO BE
AS WE BOTH GROW OLDER
I HOPE WE’LL SURVIVE
TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES

Bridge: One thing’s for certain,
time hasn’t cured it
My heart is still
hurtin’ for his love
His love

OH WHEN WILL I KNOW HIM
WHEN CAN I SEE
THE MAN I IMAGINE MY FATHER TO BE
AS WE BOTH GROW OLDER
I HOPE WE’LL SURVIVE
TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES
TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES