title: Papa Was a Good Man
text: # Papa Was a Good Man
  
  "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
  
     "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.
  
  ## Charts
  
  | Chart (1971) | Peak position |
  | - | - |
  | US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard) | 104 |
  | US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) | 18 |
  