Mother’s Day playlists are always easy (and we’ve done a few over the years), because there are so many good pop songs about Mom. In this case, Dad tends to get left out just a bit- – but we’ve combed our collections and come up with a playlist of mostly affectionate songs to play for Dad at a Father’s Day brunch.  As usual we’ve mixed a few obvious choices in with a good handful of deeper cuts.

We’ll warn you in advance: This playlist is pretty heavy on our favorite older-guy rockers — because hey, it’s their day too.

The Boss has written plenty of more somber songs about fathers and sons (the mournful “My Father’s House” for starters), but we went with this loud, defiant rocker about inheriting your dad’s fire and fury– and hopefully the keys to his Cadillac too. In the old days, after doing the sexy “Fire’ for the girls, Bruce would play this one for the boys.

Beyonce is many things, including one of the biggest pop stars in the world– but most of all, it seems she’s a devoted daughter. From her solo debut, “Daddy” may be the most pro-dad song ever written, not least because she sings the word “daddy” a few dozen times. She also makes the wish that her son and her husband will be just like her beloved dad. One of her sweeter and quieter tunes, it’s not one you’re likely to hear when she hits Gillette Stadium in August.

Back when Elvis Costello was pegged as an angry young man, you never imagined he’d write a song like this. But on this track from the buried-treasure 2000’s album, “Momofuku,” Costello is more than glad to be an old softie: “I love you more than I can say, I bless the day that you came to be.” Musically it sounds a bit like his classic “Alison,” so it’s a surprise this one fell through the cracks. And yes, Costello does have three sons, including twins with his current partner Diana Kraal.

This 2004 megahit was the one that pegged Mayer as Mr. Sensitivity for life, in case “Your Body is a Wonderland” left anybody unconvinced. Sounding sexy in his laid-back way, Mayer basically points out that everybody in a family needs to be good to everybody else. If someone told you in 2004 that this guy would eventually join the Dead, you’d think they were crazy.

Anyone who wants some hints about how growing up should be done needs to hear Hiatt’s classic late-’80s album, “Bring the Family.” This song’s all about turning into your own dad and realizing how much you love your kids, even when they start acting like kids. Not many songs will enthuse about watching your daughter dump oatmeal on your son’s head.

The song’s called “Daddy Went Walkin’,” it’s about Daddy going walkin’ and…Well, that’s about it. Nothing remotely heavy from Neil on this one, just a good-timey tune that puts across how nice it feels when you know that Dad’s around.

This timeless soul nugget from 1969 might have you fooled into thinking that it’s literally about their fathers. But the last verse reveals that they’re singing about the good-hearted guy who stepped in and took care of mom and kids after their real dad got killed in a war. So remember, it’s Stepfather’s Day too.

Couldn’t have a Father’s Day list without the ultimate dad-themed tearjerker, the biggest hit song about remembering what you didn’t say to your father and wishing that you had. The song came from experience, as both vocalist Paul Carrack and bandleader Mike Rutherford had lost their dads shortly beforehand. A few decades later it’s still guaranteed to put a lump in your throat.

While we’re getting teary, this one also gets us a little choked up. But it’s not really a sad song, just a gentle number about an affectionate thing that his own dad was fond of saying: “Put it there, if it weighs a ton.” Sir Paul’s always been good with those sentimental moments.

We’ll close with a song about something that really matters. This lost Chuck classic spends eight verses complaining about the clunky Ford that the son is stuck driving: “It’s now a violation driving under 45. But if I push to 50, this here thing will nosedive!” He politely asks Dad if he could junk the Ford and buy him a new Cadillac instead. And the letter signs off: “Sincerely, your beloved son…Henry Junior Ford!”