This song is about a child experiencing abuse, both physical and sexual, from their father. It also makes the point that even if the singer grew up to have a fantastic and successful life, the abuse still matters.
Sean brings up abuse on a later track, “Survival Song”:
And I give a thank-you to my...
[Verse 1]
Well, once when I was eight
Everything was going great
Until my father, he tried to kill me
By the time that I was nine
My daddy was doing time
And my mother had enlisted in the army
I wish my father had loved me more
[Verse 2]
By the time that I was ten
My dad's life was gonna end
'Cause he was going on ninety
By the time I was eleven
My daddy was up in heaven in the clouds
Staring down at me
[Chorus]
And I can't help but miss him
Even though he hit me every day
And he tried to hang me with a belt once
And he took nude photographs of my body
[Verse 3]
And by the time that I was twelve
I had made my first million
And by the time that I was fourteen
I had found the cure to cancer
And by the time that I was fourteen
I was the president of the country
And by the time that I was fifteen
I was the champion of the world
[Outro]
So I'm glad my daddy didn't love me
And I'm glad that he tried to kill me
And I'm glad he took those pictures of me
I am glad my daddy didn't love me
I said I'm glad my daddy didn't love me
Daddy Didn’t Love Me was written by Ben Gallaty & Sean Bonnette.
Daddy Didn’t Love Me was produced by Jalipaz Nelson.