Drake’s Dad Lyrics
We were rolling down Beale street
In the Tennessee summer heat
I can't say it's the land of free
But I'll tell ya, the booze runs cheap
And there we met Drake's Dad
Told him we came from Hamilton
He said he knew a Canadian girl
Who had a thing for Americans
[Pre-Chorus]
And all the girls back home will tell you
Some grown ass men acting like boys
There's some Peter Pan shit we're tryna work out
But when Sunday comes around, will you dig us on out?
So we can be in your arms again
Let me be in your arms again
[Chorus]
Because I hold you (So high)
Well let me hold you (So tight)
So won’t you hold up (That light)
So I can come home to find you?
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
We took the 40 down to Nashville
We started getting a bit irrational
The place was asking had questions
For a bunch of bachelors
So we stumbled down Broadway
Everybody getting sloppy
We met some girls getting married
But they came here to party
[Pre-Chorus]
And no one knows how we made it back to the hotel
Adam took off his pants again, yes he did
There's some Peter Pan shit we're tryna work out
But when Sunday comes around, will you dig us on out?
So we can be in your arms again
Girl, let me be in your arms again
[Chorus]
Because I hold you (So high)
Well let me hold you (So tight)
So won’t you hold up (That light)
So I can come home to find you?
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Bring her on up
B-b-bring her on up
I do my best thinking, thinking in the shower
Sometimes I do my pre-drinking, drinking in the shower
So I think about my neighbours, and the politics and labour
Between Karl and Groucho, I couldn't tell you which I favour
[Chorus]
Because I hold you (So high)
Well let me hold you (So tight)
So won’t you hold up (That light)
Why won't you hold on that line
I'm coming for ya
Because I hold you (So high)
Well let me hold you (So tight)
So won’t you hold up (That light)
So I can come home to find you?
[Outro]
Hold up that light
I'm lost at sea
But I'm coming home
About
Last summer I was on a road trip with my best friends through the American south, and in the magic of the night, we happened to meet Drake’s dad – Dennis Graham – in a Memphis bar. He couldn’t have been more gracious, especially given that there were 16 of us, drunk on friendship and cheap American beer. This chance encounter inspired this song.
The narrative carries on to Nashville for some more shenanigans, and finishes with us all crawling back in to bed back home in Hamilton, very tired and missing our girls.
I love writing about the joy of friendship, and the lighthouse that home can be while you’re out lost at sea.
“Drake’s Dad” is Elton John meets Kanye West. Southern groove, classic piano changes, 808s, and a gospel choir.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Arkells released the cords to numerous of their songs in what they called the “Flatten The Curve: Music Class” where fans were encouraged to learn their music and join in a live stream found on their Instagram daily. The official cords can be found here:
- 1.Drake’s Dad
- 5.Savannah
- 7.Making Due
- 9.Hung Up
- 10.Come Back Home
- 12.And Then Some
- 13.Hangs The Moon
