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

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.