David wrote this song for Father’s
Day one year. A few months later, we discovered a book by the
same title, which features most of the same animals, as well as many
others. The “Animal Dads” book is by Sneed B. Collard III, with
illustrations by Steve Jenkins (Houghton Mifflin Co.).
(Chorus:) Animal dads, animal dads As much of a parent as a baby ever had They know what to do through the good and the bad - Those good old animal dads!
The cotton-top tamarin lives high in the trees The dad takes his parenting seriously He gets lots of help from the sisters and brothers He carries the babies more than the mother (He’s not just monkeying around!)
(Chorus)
The Emperor Penguin’s in a fatherly mood Mom leaves him in charge while she searches for food For 9 long weeks, dad barely even eats To keep his youngster warm, he holds the egg on his feet (Now there’s a dad who’s on his toes!)
(Chorus)
There’s no room for womb-envy with those daddy seahorses They really take charge of the childbirth courses The seahorse mom puts her eggs in dad’s pouch At birth, those labor pains really make him say “ouch!” (Woah, Nelly! [underwater neigh])
(Chorus - Instrumental)
(Bridge:) Now, some say moms should raise the children; That it’s just nature’s way But when I look around the natural world I see dads raising kids every day!
(Chorus) The Darwin’s frog mom lays her eggs on the land When the tadpoles start to stir, dad takes command He picks them up in his mouth and carries them about 3 weeks later, he spits his frog children out (Now that’s what I call having a frog in your throat!)
(Chorus) So let’s hear a cheer for those animal dads!
