About The Song
Award-winning country artist Brad Paisley covered one of the best classic hits in the ’90s entitled “He Didn’t Have to Be.”
It is a life-changing song penned by Brad Paisley and Kelley Lovelace. This track was recorded by Brad Paisley and it was released in August 1999 as a single from his album Who Needs Pictures. Upon the release of the song, it entered country charts and peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
“He Didn’t Have to Be” is based on Kelly Lovelace’s relationship with his stepson McCain Merren. According to Paisley, this song was probably the most life-changing song that he has ever written. He said,
“‘He Didn’t Have to Be’ was probably the most life-changing three minutes that I’ve ever written, because I really believe we wouldn’t be sitting here anymore talking,” He added. “Maybe we’d be sitting here with me having written a #1 song for somebody else, but I don’t think I’d still have a record deal without that song. It broke the ice for me with radio. It was like you could see potential in it, and that’s an important thing. I was really lucky, it wasn’t like we knew what we were doing. I just happened [to write] that with my best friend from the bottom of my heart about his situation.”
“He Didn’t Have to Be” was inspired by the story of a son and a single mother. Whereas the single mother started dating a new man who immediately builds a relationship with. Lovelace co-penned this song based on her personal experience. The final verse of the song showed that the son is now about to become a father. As he stands next to his stepfather, he hopes to become at least half of a great father that his stepfather was to him.
Video
Lyrics
When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma used to wonder if she’d ever meet someone
Who wouldn’t find out about me and then turn around and run
I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old
He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later, I remember lying there in bed
I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she’d say yes
And then, all of a sudden, oh it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something’s missing to a family
Looking back, all I can say about all the things he did for me
Is, I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be
I met the girl that’s now my wife about three years ago
We had the perfect marriage, but we wanted something more
Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends
Crowded ’round the nursery window as they bring the baby in
And now, all of a sudden, oh it seems so strange to me
How we’ve gone from something’s missing to a family
Looking through the glass, I think about the man that’s standing next to me
And I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be
And looking back, all I can say about all the things he did for me
Is, I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be
Yeah, I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be
Because he didn’t have to be
You know he didn’t have to be