The irony was that the Tempts initially hated the song. Dennis Edwards in particular, because he had to sing his line over 30 times. His anger is apparent. He's said that he was so upset, that he was trying not to explode, so he was showing restraint. They later found out that, this was Whitfield's intention. He wanted it to sound like an angry son that demands to know the truth, but has to show restraint, out of respect to his mother. The chorus of the song is the mother's response to each question. Which further angers the son. Norman Whitfield's true masterpiece.
The irony was that the Tempts initially hated the song. Dennis Edwards in particular, because he had to sing his line over 30 times. His anger is apparent. He's said that he was so upset, that he was trying not to explode, so he was showing restraint. They later found out that, this was Whitfield's intention. He wanted it to sound like an angry son that demands to know the truth, but has to show restraint, out of respect to his mother. The chorus of the song is the mother's response to each question. Which further angers the son. Norman Whitfield's true masterpiece.