Daughters (John Mayer song)

2004 single by John Mayer

"Daughters"

Single by John Mayer
from the album  Heavier Things
B-side| "Come Back to Bed", "Home Life"
Released| September 28, 2004
Length| 3:59
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)| John Mayer
Producer(s)| Jack Joseph Puig
John Mayer singles chronology
| "Clarity"
(2004)  | "Daughters"
(2004)  | "Go!"
(2005)

|
|

Music video
"John Mayer - Daughters" on YouTube

"Daughters"

John Mayer's "Daughters" from Heavier Things

* * *

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"Daughters" is the third single from Heavier Things, the 2003 studio album from blues rock singer-songwriter John Mayer. The critically acclaimed song won numerous awards, including the 2005 Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 47th Grammy Awards. It has sold 1,007,000 copies in the US as of May 2013.[1]

## Content

[edit]

Lyrically, "Daughters" is an admonition to fathers (and to a lesser extent, mothers) to nurture their daughters in their childhood, because the relationship will affect their future relationships with men as adults.[2] He uses his own troubled lover to illustrate his belief.

Mayer has at various times told different, and sometimes conflicting, stories as to the inspiration for the song, ranging from MTV's Real World (in a Sirius Morning Mash Up Show interview in May 2007) to an unnamed ex-girlfriend.

In 2010, on VH1's Storytellers, Mayer stated that he wrote the song about an ex-girlfriend who had trust issues because of her absent father, which led to the decline and eventual split of their relationship.

## Personnel

[edit]

* John Mayer – vocals, guitar
* Lenny Castro – percussion
* Jamie Muhoberac – piano

## Release controversy

[edit]

Mayer had been resistant on releasing the song as a single,[3] and was still skeptical despite the Grammy win, which he mentioned in his speech upon receiving the award.[4] On several occasions, Mayer had pushed to release the songs "Come Back to Bed" and "Something's Missing" as singles, as they were more the kind of music he was leaning towards making.[citation needed] However, the label decided that "Daughters" would be more well received by radio.

In 2005, Mayer converted the song into an all-out blues song with his group John Mayer Trio on the live album, Try!, stripping away the acoustic elements the song had become known for,[5] although not similar version to the "Electric Guitar Mix" of the song as included on the single's re-release[clarification needed].

## Music video

[edit]

The music video is a grayscale video of Mayer playing the guitar and singing the song in a dark studio, intercut between scenes of a girl (i.e., a "daughter"). The video clip, directed by Mario Sorrenti, features the Australian supermodel Gemma Ward.

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2004–2005)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[6] | 53
Canada AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[7] | 3
Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[8] | 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] | 29
US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 19
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] | 6
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[12] | 2
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[13] | 1
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[14] | 19

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2004)  | Position

|

US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[15] | 32
Chart (2005)  | Position

|

US Billboard Hot 100[16] | 83
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[17] | 4
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[17] | 14
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[18] | 68
US Triple-A (Billboard)[19] | 42

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[20] | Platinum  | 70,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[21] | Gold  | 45,000‡
United States (RIAA)[22] | 2× Platinum  | 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Track listings

[edit]

All songs are by Mayer unless otherwise noted.

### Original release

[edit]

1. "Daughters" – 3:59
2. "Come Back to Bed" – 11:56 (Live at the C.W. Mitchell Pavilion, July 24, 2004)
3. "Home Life" (David LaBruyere/Mayer) – 6:50 (Live at the Shoreline Amplitheaer, July 16, 2004)

"Come Back to Bed" and "Home Life" are the same live versions that appear on Mayer's as/is volumes released in 2004

### Re-release

[edit]

1. "Daughters" – 3:59
2. "Daughters" (Electric guitar mix) – 3:59
3. "Daughters" (Home demo) – 4:59

## Appearances in media

[edit]

"Daughters" was played at the end of the 7th Heaven episode "The Fine Art of Parenting". It was also in the first episode of The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

Mayer performed the song himself in the 2015 buddy comedy film Get Hard.

## Cover versions

[edit]

In 2005, trumpeter Rick Braun covered an instrumental version from album "Yours Truly."[23][24]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Brian Mansfield (May 26, 2010). "'Before He Cheats' tops 3 million, and other 'Idol' download news". Idol Chatter. USA Today.
2. ^ Miller, Brian (2004). "JOHN MAYER AND HIS INSPIRATION FOR DAUGHTERS" Archived May 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine ArtisanNews.com Retrieved November 15, 2007
3. ^ No byline (February 26, 2005), "Backstage Banter". Billboard. 117 (9):69
4. ^ Mayer's Grammy speech where he indicated he'd intended other songs for release instead of "Daughters"
5. ^ Big Mouth Strikes Again
6. ^ "Issue 786" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
7. ^ "R&R Canada AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1602\. April 15, 2005. p. 53. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
8. ^ "R&R Canada Hot AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1592\. February 4, 2005. p. 54. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
9. ^ "John Mayer – Daughters" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
10. ^ "John Mayer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
11. ^ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
12. ^ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
13. ^ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
14. ^ "John Mayer Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
15. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51\. December 17, 2004. p. 26.
16. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2005". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
17. ^ a b "2005 The Year in Music & Touring". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 52\. December 24, 2005. p. YE-76.
18. ^ "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50\. December 16, 2005. p. 26.
19. ^ "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Triple-A Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50\. December 16, 2005. p. 57.
20. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
21. ^ "Danish single certifications – John Mayer – Daughters". IFPI Danmark.
22. ^ "American single certifications – John Mayer – Daughters". Recording Industry Association of America.
23. ^ "Yours Truly overview". Allmusic.com.
24. ^ "Rick Braun Yours Truly". SmoothViews.com.

## External links

[edit]

* John Mayer playing "Daughters" live[permanent dead link] in New York
* "Daughters" music video on YouTube
* John Mayer – Daughters (Live at the GRAMMYs) on YouTube
* "Daughters" lyrics, at Yahoo! Music
* "John Mayer and His Inspiration for Daughters" (requires RealPlayer)

* v
* t
* e

John Mayer

Discography

Studio albums|

* Room for Squares
* Heavier Things
* Continuum
* Battle Studies
* Born and Raised
* Paradise Valley
* The Search for Everything
* Sob Rock

Live albums|

* Any Given Thursday
* As/Is
* Try!
* Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles

Extended plays|

* Inside Wants Out
* The Village Sessions
* The Complete 2012 Performances Collection
* The Search for Everything: Wave One
* The Search for Everything: Wave Two

Singles|

* "No Such Thing"
* "Your Body Is a Wonderland"
* "Why Georgia"
* "Bigger Than My Body"
* "Clarity"
* "Daughters"
* "Waiting on the World to Change"
* "Belief"
* "Gravity"
* "Dreaming with a Broken Heart"
* "Say"
* "Free Fallin'"
* "Who Says"
* "Heartbreak Warfare"
* "Half of My Heart"
* "Shadow Days"
* "Queen of California"
* "Who You Love"
* "XO"
* "Love on the Weekend"
* "In the Blood"
* "New Light"
* "Last Train Home"

Featured singles|

* "Go!"
* "Streetcorner Symphony"
* "Beat It"

Video albums|

* Any Given Thursday
* Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles

Concert tours|

* John Mayer 2008 Summer Tour
* Battle Studies World Tour
* Born and Raised World Tour
* The Search for Everything World Tour

Related articles|

* John Mayer Trio
* Annual John Mayer Holiday Charity Revue
* Dead & Company
* PRS Silver Sky

Awards for "Daughters"

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Song of the Year

Awarded to songwriters

1950s|

* "Nel blu, dipinto di blu (Volare)" – Domenico Modugno (1959)

1960s|

* "The Battle of New Orleans" – Jimmy Driftwood (1960)
* "Theme of Exodus" – Ernest Gold (1961)
* "Moon River" – Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini (1962)
* "What Kind of Fool Am I?" – Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley (1963)
* "Days of Wine and Roses" – Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini (1964)
* "Hello, Dolly!" – Jerry Herman (1965)
* "The Shadow of Your Smile" – Paul Francis Webster & Johnny Mandel (1966)
* "Michelle" – John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1967)
* "Up, Up, and Away" – Jimmy Webb (1968)
* "Little Green Apples" – Bobby Russell (1969)

1970s|

* "Games People Play" – Joe South (1970)
* "Bridge over Troubled Water" – Paul Simon (1971)
* "You've Got a Friend" – Carole King (1972)
* "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" – Ewan MacColl (1973)
* "Killing Me Softly with His Song" – Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox (1974)
* "The Way We Were" – Alan and Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch (1975)
* "Send In the Clowns" – Stephen Sondheim (1976)
* "I Write the Songs" – Bruce Johnston (1977)
* "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" – Barbra Streisand & Paul Williams / "You Light Up My Life" – Joe Brooks (1978)
* "Just the Way You Are" – Billy Joel (1979)

1980s|

* "What a Fool Believes" – Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald (1980)
* "Sailing" – Christopher Cross (1981)
* "Bette Davis Eyes" – Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon (1982)
* "Always on My Mind" – Johnny Christopher, Mark James & Wayne Carson (1983)
* "Every Breath You Take" – Sting (1984)
* "What's Love Got to Do with It" – Graham Lyle & Terry Britten (1985)
* "We Are the World" – Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie (1986)
* "That's What Friends Are For" – Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager (1987)
* "Somewhere Out There" – James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (1988)
* "Don't Worry, Be Happy" – Bobby McFerrin (1989)

1990s|

* "Wind Beneath My Wings" – Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar (1990)
* "From a Distance" – Julie Gold (1991)
* "Unforgettable" – Irving Gordon (1992)
* "Tears in Heaven" – Eric Clapton & Will Jennings (1993)
* "A Whole New World" – Alan Menken & Tim Rice (1994)
* "Streets of Philadelphia" – Bruce Springsteen (1995)
* "Kiss from a Rose" – Seal (1996)
* "Change the World" – Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick & Tommy Sims (1997)
* "Sunny Came Home" – Shawn Colvin & John Leventhal (1998)
* "My Heart Will Go On" – James Horner & Will Jennings (1999)

2000s|

* "Smooth" – Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas (2000)
* "Beautiful Day" – Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson (2001)
* "Fallin'" – Alicia Keys (2002)
* "Don't Know Why" – Jesse Harris (2003)
* "Dance with My Father" – Richard Marx & Luther Vandross (2004)
* "Daughters" – John Mayer (2005)
* "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" – Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson (2006)
* "Not Ready to Make Nice" – Emily Burns Erwin, Martha Maguire, Natalie Maines Pasdar & Dan Wilson (2007)
* "Rehab" – Amy Winehouse (2008)
* "Viva la Vida" – Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion & Christopher Martin (2009)

2010s|

* "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" – Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart (2010)
* "Need You Now" – Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott (2011)
* "Rolling in the Deep" – Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth (2012)
* "We Are Young" – Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess (2013)
* "Royals" – Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor (2014)
* "Stay with Me" (Darkchild version) – James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith (2015)
* "Thinking Out Loud" – Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge (2016)
* "Hello" – Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin (2017)
* "That's What I Like" – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip (2018)
* "This Is America" – Donald Glover, Ludwig Göransson & Jeffery Lamar Williams (2019)

2020s|

* "Bad Guy" – Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell (2020)
* "I Can't Breathe" – Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas (2021)
* "Leave the Door Open" – Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars (2022)
* "Just Like That" – Bonnie Raitt (2023)
* "What Was I Made For?" – Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell (2024)
* "Not Like Us" – Kendrick Lamar (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

1950s|

* "Catch a Falling Star" – Perry Como (1959)

1960s|

* Come Dance with Me! – Frank Sinatra (1960)
* "Georgia on My Mind" – Ray Charles / The Genius of Ray Charles – Ray Charles (1961)
* "Lollipops and Roses" – Jack Jones (1962)
* "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" – Tony Bennett (1963)
* "Wives and Lovers" – Jack Jones (1964)
* "Hello, Dolly!" – Louis Armstrong (1965)
* "It Was a Very Good Year" – Frank Sinatra (1966)
* "Strangers in the Night" – Frank Sinatra (1967)
* "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" – Glen Campbell (1968)
* "Light My Fire" – José Feliciano (1969)

1970s|

* "Everybody's Talkin'" – Harry Nilsson (1970)
* "Everything Is Beautiful" – Ray Stevens (1971)
* "You've Got a Friend" – James Taylor (1972)
* "Without You" – Harry Nilsson (1973)
* "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" – Stevie Wonder (1974)
* Fulfillingness' First Finale – Stevie Wonder (1975)
* Still Crazy After All These Years – Paul Simon (1976)
* Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder (1977)
* "Handy Man" – James Taylor (1978)
* "Copacabana (At the Copa)" – Barry Manilow (1979)

1980s|

* 52nd Street – Billy Joel (1980)
* "This Is It" – Kenny Loggins (1981)
* Breakin' Away – Al Jarreau (1982)
* "Truly" – Lionel Richie (1983)
* Thriller – Michael Jackson (1984)
* "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" – Phil Collins (1985)
* No Jacket Required – Phil Collins (1986)
* "Higher Love" – Steve Winwood (1987)
* Bring On the Night – Sting (1988)
* "Don't Worry, Be Happy" – Bobby McFerrin (1989)

1990s|

* "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" – Michael Bolton (1990)
* "Oh, Pretty Woman (live 1987)" – Roy Orbison (1991)
* "When a Man Loves a Woman" – Michael Bolton (1992)
* "Tears in Heaven" – Eric Clapton (1993)
* "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" – Sting (1994)
* "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John (1995)
* "Kiss from a Rose" – Seal (1996)
* "Change the World" – Eric Clapton (1997)
* "Candle in the Wind 1997" – Elton John (1998)
* "My Father's Eyes" – Eric Clapton (1999)

2000s|

* "Brand New Day" – Sting (2000)
* "She Walks This Earth" – Sting (2001)
* "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" – James Taylor (2002)
* "Your Body Is a Wonderland" – John Mayer (2003)
* "Cry Me a River" – Justin Timberlake (2004)
* "Daughters" – John Mayer (2005)
* "From the Bottom of My Heart" – Stevie Wonder (2006)
* "Waiting on the World to Change" – John Mayer (2007)
* "What Goes Around... Comes Around" – Justin Timberlake (2008)
* "Say" – John Mayer (2009)

2010s|

* "Make It Mine" – Jason Mraz (2010)
* "Just the Way You Are" – Bruno Mars (2011)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

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