The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.

Definition of FATHER FIGURE — Merriam-webster

a person often of particular power or influence who serves as an emotional substitute for a father; an older man who is respected and admired like a father... See the full definition

The man in the song is promising to make the lover he is singing to feel loved and secure, as a father would his child.

The music video depicts Michael as a cab driver in a relationship with a high-fashion model played by Tania Coleridge. Coleridge related in an interview they made more than 30 tries of kissing during the shoot of video while her boyfriend was backstage

The Girl in the Video: "Father Figure" (1988) — Noblemania

Introduction to series "The Girl in the Video 2" (including list of interviewees). The video: "Father Figure" by George Michael. The girl-now-woman: Tania Harcourt-Cooze (Tania Coleridge). Just yours was broken into? I think it was just mine. What was the hardest part of the shoot? It was a very big shoot, downtown L.A.

Here it is an original comment about “Father Figure” official video shooting down town in Los Angeles