Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “My Dad The Manatee” by Wavelets
My Dad the Manatee by Wavelets is a hard-hitting song that touches on the delicate family dynamic between father and son. It is a sad, yet hopeful, track about realizing that as difficult as cases of absent parents may be, there is still the potential to experience growth in relationship and stability in life.
The lyrics of the song describe a father who is more like a manatee, than an actual human being. Here the manatee serves as a metaphor of a father figure who is unresponsive, distant, and neglectful. The speaker yearns for the father’s presence – “it’s been so many years since I’ve seen you face” -, but remains unsure of what to expect if he ever appears again. The tone of the song reflects a combination of frustration and wishes for something better – “My father who went far away, wanna meet him in person someday”.
The chorus serves to reinforce the concept of the absent parent, but the speaker does not seem to have much hope that things will be different. In fact, the sentiment is further emphasized as “the manatee just pushes on” with life, as if to suggest that the distant relationship is destined to remain static.
The song ends on an uplifting note however, as the speaker recognizes his own resilience in spite of his dad’s inattention. He acknowledges that “maybe I don’t have to be like him at all… I survive, and I’m strong, I’m still standing tall” – an endearing expression of strength in spite of the past.
My Dad the Manatee is a song about coming to terms with an absent father, and learning how to be strong while striving for something better. It is a somber, yet inspiring track that deals with a difficult and often uncomfortable truth.