The Story Behind "Confessions Of a Broken Heart (Daughter To Father)"

Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan. Photo by Mark Mainz / Getty Images

Song released October 18, 2005

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Michael Lohan's Legal Problems

Throughout 2004 and much of 2005, Michael Lohan, father of actress and pop singer Lindsay Lohan, experienced a variety of run-ins with the law. The problems reached a peak with Michael being sentenced in May, 2005 to 1 1/2 to 4 years in prison for a variety of offenses including aggravated unlicensed driving and attempted assault. He admitted a drinking problem, but the judge denied his request to be sentenced to alcohol rehabilitation instead of prison.

In August, 2005 a judge ruled on Michael Lohan's request for a portion of Lindsay's earnings as part of a divorce settlement with her mother Dina. The judge denied his request and stated Lindsay's earnings did not qualify as a "marital asset." In response to the legal issues, Lindsay Lohan's management publicly suggested that she distance herself from her father. However, she has continued to express public support for him from time to time, including a statement on Father's Day 2005 "I hope he's well. God bless him and I love him."

Lindsay Lohan's Song

Lindsay Lohan's most public response to her father's problems appeared with the release via First Listen on AOL Music on September 30, 2005 of her song "Confessions Of a Broken Heart (Daughter To Father)." The song is a dramatic piano-based ballad detailing her emotional response to the father-daughter estrangement. Among the lyric lines are "Daughter to father / I don't know you, but I still want to."

Lindsay has directed a video to accompany the song. It will be released October 24, 2005 via MTV. In the video, Lindsay Lohan's younger sister Aliana plays Lindsay. The video reportedly includes re-enactments of arguments between her parents. Lindsay says "A lot of people go through family issues, abuse and that kind of thing. I think it's important to show that other people go through it." She also has been quoted saying, in reference to her father's possible reaction, "I hope he'll see what I say in the song is, 'I love you,' so many times, that I need him and the crazy things in my life. I hope he sees the positive side of the video rather than the negative. The video is kind of offensive, but it is very raw. He's my father. I need someone to walk me down the aisle when I get married."

Michael Lohan's Response

Michael Lohan has responded to "Confessions Of a Broken Heart" by letter to the New York Daily News. In the letter he says he is thrilled with the new song, and he even wrote his own song in response. Among his statements is "While I always considered and expressed how truly blessed Lindsay, as well as my other children are, I never realized how blessed I am to have a daughter as amazing as Lindsay. Hold onto my shirt honey, soon enough you'll be able to hold on to me!"