Brad Paisley -- He Didn't Have to Be [REACTION/GIFT REQUEST]

Shoutout and a big Thank You! to Montauk Ed for this gift and request of a song that has no choice but to hit you in the feels!
*Don is a philosopher, theologian, author and personal coach reacting to non-pop country music.
*For information about personal coaching sessions with Don, email him at EchelonPersonlCoaching at gmail dot com, or visit his website at EchelonPersonalCoaching.com.
*LINK TO DON'S THINKING THEOLOGY CHANNEL, where he discusses theological topics from a philosophical perspective: www.youtube.co...
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[@leslie7976]

When my 24 old son had to do a project for school picking his top 10 songs of his life this was one of them. When he met my husband he was about the same age as the boy in the song. He asked him "Are you going to be my dad?" My husband said "I hope so." Well he made it legal by adopting both my kids. This song always makes me tear up.

[@lynnanderson5114]

My boys picked this song to play at their dad’s funeral. Their biological father was never in their life and my husband adopted them and loved them and they were HIS kids. Brought the whole church to tears because they all knew the story and how much he loved our boys and how much they loved him.

[@reaganharvill887]

This song came at a frustrating time in the beginning of Paisley's career, as he was set to release his first album, Who Needs Pictures? The release date kept getting pushed back and it frustrated Paisley. He had dinner one night with one of his co-writers, Kelley Lovelace who is a stepfather. Paisley asked Lovelace what means the most to him right now. Lovelace's response was "being a good husband and a good father" with the situation he was in with a wife and stepson. The only thing Paisley knew to do was write a song about subject with Lovelace. They simply wrote it for themselves and they didn't intend to put it on the album at first. It was only after so many people heard it, that they encouraged Paisley to add it as an extra track to his first album and it became his second single and his first #1 hit. It's a powerful song and I don't necessarily see it as self-aggrandizing. Lovelace was a young stepfather in 1998-99 when the song was written and he still had a lot to learn about raising kids and I'm sure he acknowledged then he wasn't perfect but still had a lot to learn. I think based on his own experiences, plus general stories he and Paisley probably heard about other stepparents and gathered together in their song, it's something that speaks to everyone in that situation.
Great reaction video, Don. I've been watching your videos for awhile now and I'm looking forward to more.

[@montauked]

We are so thankful that you took the time to tell us about the wonderful back story to this song. Your suggestions of songs that you proposed for Don to react to was spot on as well. Again, thanks for your story and thanks to Don for reacting to this song in such a positive, compassionate way.

[@waltjeffers4746]

I’m blessed enough to have a great dad and step dad in my life. My parents divorced when I was 10 and i didn’t know what to expect. Thankfully the next year my mom ran into my step dad who had went to high school with her and moved away after high school met in their hometown. Now I’m 22 and I owe both my dad and step dad so much for teaching me how to be a man. This song will always be one of my favorites!

[@carlahuff4307]

My husband had a father exactly like this song. His real dad never had a relationship with him and his step-dad & his mom met when he was 4 years old. They married a short time later and were married for 48 years before he passed away last year. He wanted to adopt my husband when he was 12 years old and my husband decided not to do it because everyone knew his original last name. Perfect tribute songs to the dad's that didn't have to be, but were there.

[@Nicole_Jewell]

My older sister and her husband both took on the step parent role to each of their kids when they married in the 90s now the kids think of each other as brothers and sisters and my sister isn't his kids step mom she's mom to them now and my brother in law isn't my sister's kids step dad he's their dad now. Been that way for years cause they grew into a family just like the song says. Great reaction Don and great request Ed. This song makes me think of my sister and brother in law every time I hear it.

[@jamesbrown7818]

This is a great tribute to all the men who stepped up when others stepped out. Be it through separation or widowed

[@mamakittyluvsjesus]

Awesome choice Ed. A song that hits deep . Thank God for the Men that step in so beautiful. Its awesome when they step in that . Someone almost step in my situation I was a single parent but they bailed scared after relationship started getting deep. He was very good with my son who was little at the time .We were on our own but survived and things were good . Since video was blocked I went and watched the video myself . It hit much deeper. Great reaction as always Don .

[@larrybench6398]

This is a great song by Brad, a emotional song and what it's like to be a single mother trying to find the right person for her and her child it's a hard thing to get right because a lot of men don't want to take on the task of raising someone else kid , it takes a person with the maturity to take on the responsibility, it takes a real man or woman to give love to both.
Hey Don, I would like to request a song by Merle Haggard, called "YOU TAKE ME FOR GRANTED" this was one of mother's favorite Merle Haggard, songs the other was "MY FAVORITE MEMORY" a great Merle Haggard, song great request and reaction, THANKS GUY'S GREAT JOB

[@planojag595]

This is such a great song and Brad Paisley has plenty. My favorites of his are Part Two, Then, Remind Me (with Carrie Underwood), He Didn’t Have To Be, Letter To Me, Ticks, I Wish You’d Stay, Who Needs Pictures, I’ve Been Better, Holdin’ On To You, Alcohol, Celebrity, I'm Still a Guy, and Water.

[@giovannicerri3626]

As you might have noticed drom the video, Brad was very young when he released this song. It was his first big hit.
I can't relate directly to the song, but it does carry a lot of empathy and sweetness which can appeal to everyone. I also think it sounds great.
Brad's music is a little bit of a hit and miss as far as i'm concerned: his early work tends to be the one I like best. However I believe his masterpiece is "Whiskey lullaby" with Alison Krauss.
Fatherhood is a recurrent theme in country music so I'll suggest some songs in that vein I like:
"Everything that glitters is not gold" - Dan Seals
"I don't call him daddy" - Doug Supernaw
"Highway 20 ride" - Zac Brown
"The greatest man i never knew" - Reba McEntire

[@mikebarnett9012]

"See the Big Man Cry" Charlie Louvin---#UTRCM

[@emmahuff250]

I understand why this hit you so hard.

[@rocherossier278]

Do Too Country From Roche Rossier II