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.