Song by Johnny Cash
"Papa Was a Good Man" is a song written by songwriter Hal Bynum.
Released in September 1971 as a single (Columbia 4-45460, with "I Promise You" on the opposite side) by Johnny Cash, the song reached #16 on U.S. "Billboard"'s country chart and #104 on "Billboard"'s Bubbling Under the Hot 100.
Both "I Promise You" (which is "a promise of devotion to June") and "Papa Was a Good Man" are part of Johnny Cash's 1972 album "A Thing Called Love".
Analysis.
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;"Papa" is told from the perspective of a son whose father is struggling with alcoholism. It was the lowest charting of the three releases from the album, peaking at #16 Country and #104 Pop. It featured additional vocals from the choir of the Evangel Temple, the Nashville church Cash was now attending, pushing the song close to the point of overproduction.
References.
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