John Mayer Admits the Inspiration Behind His 2003 Hit ‘Daughters’ Was 'Very Selfish'
John Mayer Admits the Inspiration Behind His 2003 Hit ‘Daughters’ Was 'Very Selfish'
Meredith WilshereSun, April 26, 2026 at 11:59 AM UTC
0
John MayerCredit: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty -
John Mayer admitted he wrote “Daughters” from a selfish perspective as a young man processing heartbreak, thinking it was the father's fault
“It was really about me, a young guy, so selfishly upset that he couldn't be with the woman he loved, because he thought that her father must have had something to do with it," he shared
The 2003 song won a Grammy for Song of the Year
Now that he is over 20 years removed, John Mayer can admit that he wrote "Daughters" from a “very selfish” place.
At the opening concert of HISTORYTalks in Philadelphia on April 17, the 48-year-old singer reflected on making the 2003 hit. In the song, Mayer urges fathers to be good to their daughters, noting that it directly impacts how she will be able to give and receive love in the future.
“What was a 24-year-old boy doing, telling fathers?” Mayer questioned before breaking into laughter.
John MayerCredit: Valerie Terranova/WireImage
The actual reason for the award-winning song, he admitted, “is very selfish.”
“I was thinking in very circuitous and clever ways that it was really about me, a young guy, so selfishly upset that he couldn't be with the woman he loved, because he thought that her father must have had something to do with it," Mayer shared.
Advertisement
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Grammy winner continued, “When you're young... that's young logic, and it plays really well in songs. It just does. ‘Come over. I know [we're] horrible for each other, come over,' [type of] young.”
John MayerCredit: John Shearer/Getty
He then joked about what “older logic” sounds like, and why it can be harder to write songs about.
“'Had a tough day, coped with it.' It's a tough song to write. ‘Had a rough morning, took a look at the bright side, got a good phone call later, reminded myself, "What was I doing worrying?"'" he joked. "It's not a chorus."
Daughters was released in 2003, when Mayer was 25, as the third single from his album Heavier Things. The record won a Grammy for Song of the Year at the 47th Grammy Awards.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
