Song Information

Title: That’s My Job
Artist: Conway Twitty
Songwriters: Gary Burr
Album: Borderline
Release Date: November 1987
Label: MCA Records
Genre: Country
Chart Performance: Reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart

Released in late 1987, “That’s My Job” is one of Conway Twitty’s most heartfelt and emotionally powerful songs. Written by acclaimed songwriter Gary Burr, the track was included on Twitty’s Borderline album and quickly gained attention for its raw honesty and poignant message about the father-son relationship. The song stands out as a testament to Twitty’s versatility—not just as a crooner of love songs, but also as a storyteller of deep, emotional truths.


Song Meaning

“That’s My Job” narrates the tender and complex relationship between a son and his father, exploring the quiet sacrifices and unspoken love that often define fatherhood. The song begins with childhood memories—moments when the father comforted the son after nightmares or helped him through fears. Each time the child questioned his safety or future, the father reassured him, saying, “That’s my job.”

As the son grows older, the dynamic shifts: he becomes independent, seeks his own path, and even clashes with his father’s way of thinking. But through every stage of life, the father’s consistent message is clear—his purpose is to protect, guide, and support. When the son finds out about his father’s death later in the song, the depth of this quiet love becomes even more profound. The final verses reflect on how those three words—“That’s my job”—echo through the son’s memory, defining what love and responsibility truly mean.

This song isn’t just about fatherhood—it’s about legacy, quiet devotion, and how the smallest gestures leave the deepest impact.


Explaining the Underlying Message

At its emotional core, “That’s My Job” poses a question that many listeners may not even realize they’re asking: Why do some of the most powerful expressions of love come without words?

The song sheds light on a generational form of affection—especially common among fathers—where love is not loudly spoken but consistently shown through actions. The father never delivers long monologues about love or fear. Instead, he simply shows up, time and time again, through storms of childhood nightmares, teenage rebellion, and adult uncertainty.

The most touching realization comes only after the father’s passing. The son sees how his dad’s steady presence—his reliability, strength, and quiet support—was his way of saying “I love you.” The phrase “that’s my job” becomes a symbol of unconditional love expressed through duty, responsibility, and presence. It forces listeners to reflect on their own relationships: how often do we overlook the daily acts of love from parents or loved ones, expecting grand gestures instead?

Ultimately, Conway Twitty delivers a moving reminder that sometimes the most powerful words aren’t “I love you,” but rather, “I’m here.”


Watch the Song Video

🎬https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1hPcGaBXJI


Lyrics

I woke up crying late at nightWhen I was very youngI had dreamed my fatherHad passed away and gone
My world revolved around himI couldn’t lie there anymoreSo I made my way down the mirrored hallAnd tapped upon his door
And I said “Daddy, I’m so afraidHow will I go on with you gone that way?Don’t want to cry anymore, so may I stay with you?”
And he said “That’s my jobThat’s what I doEverything I do is because of youTo keep you safe with meThat’s my job you see”
Later we barely got alongThis teenage boy and heMost of the fights it seemsWere over different dreamsWe each held for me
He wanted knowledge and learningI wanted to fly out westSaid, “I could make it out thereIf I just had the fareI got half, will you loan me the rest?”
And I said “Daddy, I’m so afraidThere’s no guarantee in the plansI’ve made and if I should failWho will pay my way back home?”
And he said “That’s my jobThat’s what I doEverything I do is because of youTo keep you safe with meThat’s my job you see”
Every person carves his spotAnd fills the hole with lightAnd I pray someday I mightLight as bright as he
Woke up early one bright fall dayTo spread the tragic newsAfter all my travel, I settled downWithin a mile or two
I make my living with words and rhymeAnd all this tragedyShould go into my head and out insteadAs bits of poetry
But I say “Daddy, I’m so afraidHow will I go on with you gone this way?How can I come up with a song to say I love you?”
That’s my job, That’s what I doEverything I do is because of youTo keep you safe with meThat’s my job you seeEverything I do is because of youTo keep you safe with me