Homegrown Christian songwriter Michael Ray Farren who rose to fame in Texarkana with his praise and worship group Pocket Full of Rocks has scored a fast-rising, viral hit song about fatherhood on TikTok that has connected with hundreds of thousands of listeners.
The song "Checking In" has a powerful message about the importance of fathers that immediately struck a chord with its audience - even those who have lost their dads. However, the song is unique because more than 70 percent of the commenters on TikTok have been men.
The video of Michael Farren singing his song has already amassed around 350,000 views and almost 30,000 likes on TikTok. Farren's other new song discussed below, called "Jesus' Fault," has reached 1.3 million views on YouTube since it was released about two weeks ago.
Even tough guys are affected by the song
Farren said men confess that the song is making them cry on job sites, and some had said they have to pull to the side of the road to reflect on their fathers and the things they should have said to them when they had the chance.
The songwriter joined with two other well-known co-writers (Kenneth Hart and Garrett Jacobs) to produce the song, and Farren said all three of them were lucky enough to still have their fathers.
He said: "All of us have different dynamics with our dads, and no parent is perfect. So it's not about being perfect parents or perfect kids. It's about choosing to love well and connect with those that matter."
Farren said some of the reaction to the song has been heartbreaking as people confessed that they wished they had taken that final phone call from dad. Other fathers have also lamented not speaking to their sons for 10 years.
A successful songwriter
Michael Ray Farren and his family moved to Nashville, where he became a Grammy nominated songwriter for artists such as Lauren Daigle and Reba McEntire. He recently co-wrote a new song (Jesus' Fault) for Grammy winner Zach Williams with country star Walker Hayes - famous for the song "Fancy Like."
Farren may be most remembered for the praise and worship song "Let It Rain," which was first recorded by his group Pocket Full of Rocks and later recorded by Michael W. Smith on a multi-platinum praise and worship album. Today, "Let It Rain" has become a well-known worship anthem sung in churches around the globe.
A focus on fathers
Farren is enjoying singing the song he wrote with his friends, and he hopes it makes both men and women pick up the phone and call their dads.
He said: "At some point, you go, 'Ya know what, I'm gonna be the best me I can be. So I'm gonna pick up the phone and say hello, and I love ya to the guy I call dad.'
Farren commented on each person's unique relationship with their father: "He may be amazing. He may be awful. There's something powerful that happens in just letting people know that they're seen and that they're heard. Letting a parent know they are seen and heard, man, it affects everything."
This is good advice from Michael Farren, and he wants us to either think about our dads if they are gone - or call them if they are alive. So far, it's working, as people use the hashtag #CallYourDad.
Michael Ray Farren's song "Checking In" @michaelrayfarren:
@michaelrayfarren “Checking In”. Your Dad called. Answer it. #newmusic #callyourdad ♬ original sound - Michael Ray Farren
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