The song "This Child Needs Its Father" by Gladys Knight & The Pips tells the story of a mother pleading with her partner to come back home and be present in their child's life. The lyrics express the mother's struggle to raise the baby on her own and her longing for the father's return. Throughout the song, the mother emphasizes the importance of the father's presence in their child's life. She pleads for him to come back home because both she and the child need him. The mother tries to stay strong and hold her head up high despite the pain she feels, but it becomes evident in her eyes that she is hurting. People around her notice the mother's struggle, but she refuses to let another man take the father's place. She does her best to care for the child, but it is evident that the father's absence is causing deep emotional pain. As the mother tries to move on and forget the father, the baby's presence reminds her of him. She cries and searches for ways to cope, but the baby's face serves as a constant reminder of the father. The lyrics also touch on the emotional toll the father's absence has on the child. The child calls for their daddy every day, but he is not there. The mother is left struggling to find things to say to the child, not knowing how to explain that the father does not seem to care. In summary, "This Child Needs Its Father" portrays the story of a mother desperately longing for the father to come back home and be present in their child's life. It showcases the struggles and pain experienced by both the mother and child due to the father's absence.
