About The Song
Conway Twitty’s That’s My Job is an emotionally powerful yet comforting and reassuring song. The song, which begins with a boy waking up from a nightmare of his dad passing away and ends on his father’s tragic passing, is an inevitable heartache that still strikes as if it was unexpected. But the song also reveals a secret that resonated with many fathers that no matter what happens, they will always be there for their kids because that’s their job.
The song was written by Gary Burr, who shared that the heart-wrenching ballad mirrored his life and his experiences with his father. Every word was a reflection of his relationship with his father except for the title which was named by his muse according to an interview with Chicken Soup for the Soul: Country Music.
Before the song was released in November 1987 as Conway Twitty’s third single from his album Borderline, he handed a demo recording of it to his son Micheal Twitty. Micheal revealed in an interview with Savvy Dad in 2013 that although the song was good, he admittedly didn’t like it. He said that it was the first time in his life that he imagined a life without his dad.
Conway simply told him that whatever he did or wherever he was, just one listen to this song and he would know that he was with him.
The song was warmly recognized by fans earning it a spot on the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart among many of Conway Twitty’s songs that became hits. But it wasn’t just about the lyrics that resonated with many. It was also the emotional performance of Conway that pulled them back to feel and reminisce about their own fathers and their undying love for them.
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Lyrics
I woke up crying late at night
When I was very young
I had dreamed my father
Had passed away and gone
My world revolved around him
I couldn’t lie there anymore
So I made my way down the mirrored hall
And tapped upon his door
And I said “Daddy, I’m so afraid
How will I go on with you gone that way?
Don’t want to cry anymore, so may I stay with you?”
And he said “That’s my job
That’s what I do
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe with me
That’s my job you see”
Later we barely got along
This teenage boy and he
Most of the fights it seems
Were over different dreams
We each held for me
He wanted knowledge and learning
I wanted to fly out west
Said, “I could make it out there
If I just had the fare
I got half, will you loan me the rest?”
And I said “Daddy, I’m so afraid
There’s no guarantee in the plans
I’ve made and if I should fail
Who will pay my way back home?”
And he said “That’s my job
That’s what I do
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe with me
That’s my job you see”
Every person carves his spot
And fills the hole with light
And I pray someday I might
Light as bright as he
Woke up early one bright fall day
To spread the tragic news
After all my travel, I settled down
Within a mile or two
I make my living with words and rhyme
And all this tragedy
Should go into my head and out instead
As bits of poetry
But I say “Daddy, I’m so afraid
How will I go on with you gone this way?
How can I come up with a song to say I love you?”
That’s my job, That’s what I do
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe with me
That’s my job you see
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe with me
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