Wonderful artistry. 50X better than any of the narcissistic rap/hip hop garbage of today. The long intro was spellbinding. The lyrics provided something of a mystery, similar to “Ode To Billy Joe”.
As a teen (before the internet), I always wondered if the last line of the chorus was “all he left us was alone” or “all he left us was a loan” (presumably unpaid)? The play on words was brilliant.
No humor? The ripping of their father was classic:
“Hey Mama. I heard Papa had three outside children and another wife...and that ain’t right.”
“Folks say Papa never was much on thinkin’. Spent much of his time chasin’ women and drinkin’.”
The song made me think of all the inner-city men who had turned to crime and died young from one thing or another and how Mama had to explain to the children how Daddy made some bad decisions and now was gone and couldn’t provide for them. It was important, just as with “Ode To Billy Joe” that they didn’t tell us why it happened, sustaining the mystery that held you six minutes into the music.
As someone who has dabbled in lyricism, painting such a vivid pictured is such a difficult task. My hat’s off to Mr. Strong for sticking to his guns and believing in his words.
For fatherless son to mother song...try “Mother of a miners child” by Gordon Lightfoot.