Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1

Album: The Life of Pablo (2016)
Charted: 54 37
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song opens with a soul-stirring verse from Pastor T.L Barrett's "Father Stretch My Hands," which also gives the tune its name. West did the same thing previously on the Yeezus track "Bound 2," which sampled "Bound" by Ponderosa Twins Plus One.
  • Kanye West starts his verse by rapping about having sex with models before closing with thoughts on his relationship with his wife Kim Kardishan. Kid Cudi also contributes a couple of lines in which he describes a loved one as "the sun in my morning." Cudi was once signed to G.O.O.D. Music, so it's clear from his contribution here that he and Kanye remain on good terms.
  • Chance the Rapper is one of the credited writers. West's fellow Chicagoan also aided in the penning of "Ultralight Beam," "Famous," "Feedback" and "Waves."
  • Atlanta-based producer Metro Boomin supplied the beat. West first tried his hand at rapping over Metro Boomin's production when he spat some rhymes over Drake and Future's "Jumpman" for his 2015 New Year's Eve release "Facts."
  • Rick Rubin, who helmed West's previously album Yeezus, is listed as the co-executive producer of The Life of Pablo. Rubin also assisted in the production of several individual tracks including this one, "Ultralight Beam", and "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2."
  • Though gospel was one of the influences on Kanye West's The Life of Pablo, the album still contains plenty of unchristian cussing and sexual references. However, cleaned up versions of both this song and "Ultralight Beam" later became staples of West's Sunday Services. Both of the reworks were recorded in late 2019 for Yeezy's Jesus Is Born album with "Father Stretch" being about God's far-reaching love.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.