He Didn't Have to Be

Infobox Single
Name = He Didn't Have to Be


Caption =
Artist = Brad Paisley
from Album = Who Needs Pictures
Released = late 1999
Format = CD single
Recorded =
Genre = Country
Length = 4:42 (album version)
Label = Arista Nashville
Writer = Brad Paisley
Kelley Lovelace
Producer = Frank Rogers
Last single = "Who Needs Pictures"
(1999)
This single = "He Didn't Have to Be"
(1999)
Next single = "Me Neither"
(2000)"He Didn't Have to Be" is a song by Brad Paisley, from his 1999 debut album, "Who Needs Pictures". It became his first Number One single in December 1999, holding the top spot for one week.

Song Meaning

The song was based on Paisley's frequent co-writer, Kelley Lovelace, who has a stepson. According to Lovelace, Paisley said to him, "Let's make a song about you two that will make your wife cry." [ [http://www.usaweekend.com/07_issues/070610/070610nashville_dads.html USA WEEKEND Magazine | ] ] The song is written from the perspective of a son of a single mother; the single mother begins dating a new man who almost immediately includes the child in things like going to the movies. In the final verse, the son is now about ready to become a father himself, standing in the hospital next to his stepfather and hoping that he can be "at least half the dad" that his stepfather "didn't have to be."

References