The Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

It was the third of September
That day I'll always remember, yes I will
'Cause that was the day that my daddy died
I never got a chance to see him
Never heard nothin' but bad things about him
Momma I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
Momma just hung her head and said, son

Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone (my son, yeah)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone

Hey Momma!
Is it true what they say that Papa never worked a day in his life
And Momma, some bad talk goin' round town sayin' that
Papa had three outside children
And another wife, and that ain't right
Heard some talk Papa doing some storefront preachin'
Talking about saving souls and all the time leechin'
Dealing in dirt, and stealing in the name of the Lord
Momma just hung her head and said

Papa was a rolling stone (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
Hey Papa was a rolling stone (dad gumma it)
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone

Hey Momma
I heard Papa called himself a jack-of-all-trades
Tell me is that what sent Papa to an early grave
Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal
To pay his bills
Hey Momma
Folks say Papa never was much on thinking
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
Momma I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
Momma looked up with a tear in her eye and said, son

Papa was a rolling stone (well, well, well, well)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone (lone, lone, lone, alone)
Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone

(I said) Papa was a rolling stone (yes he was, my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
My daddy was
Papa was a rolling stone (yes he was, yeah)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home)

Written by:
Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield

Publisher:
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by Lyric Find

The Temptations

The Temptations

View Profile
The Millennium Collection: Best of Motown 1970s, Vol. 1 The Millennium Collection: Best of Motown 1970s, Vol. 1
Gold Gold 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Temptations, Vol. 2 (The '70s, '80s, '90s) 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Temptations, Vol. 2 (The '70s, '80s, '90s) Motown Remixed (Expanded Edition) Motown Remixed (Expanded Edition) The Definitive Collection The Definitive Collection Motown Classics Gold Motown Classics Gold Four Brothers (Music from the Original Motion Picture) Four Brothers (Music from the Original Motion Picture) 100% Motown - 70s 100% Motown - 70s All Directions All Directions Motown Remixed & Unmixed Motown Remixed & Unmixed 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Funk Brothers 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Funk Brothers Motown the Musical – 100 Originals Motown the Musical – 100 Originals Motown Remixed, Vol. 2 Motown Remixed, Vol. 2 Psychedelic Soul Psychedelic Soul Give and Take - The Best of the Pioneers Give and Take - The Best of the Pioneers Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael In Japan! (Live) In Japan! (Live) Hitsville: The Making of Motown (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Hitsville: The Making of Motown (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) The Nice Guys (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) The Nice Guys (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Greatest Hits Live Greatest Hits Live Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Ultimate Grammy Collection: Classic R&B Ultimate Grammy Collection: Classic R&B Hitsville USA, The Motown Collection 1972-1992 Hitsville USA, The Motown Collection 1972-1992 Are You Okay? Are You Okay? Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (Music from the Motion Picture) Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (Music from the Motion Picture) The Best Oldies Party Soundtrack The Best Oldies Party Soundtrack Remix the Classics, Vol. 2 Remix the Classics, Vol. 2 Ultimate Soul Collection Ultimate Soul Collection Soul Revue, Vol. I 30 Great Performances by the Whispers, Delphonics and Temptations Review Soul Revue, Vol. I 30 Great Performances by the Whispers, Delphonics and Temptations Review Soul Hits of the 70s Soul Hits of the 70s Dance Funk (Non-Stop Mixes) Dance Funk (Non-Stop Mixes) Classic Soul Anthems 30 Greatest Soul Hits Classic Soul Anthems 30 Greatest Soul Hits Soul Hits of the 70s, Vol. 3 Soul Hits of the 70s, Vol. 3 Going Back (Deluxe Edition) Going Back (Deluxe Edition) Live In Japan Live In Japan The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 12B: 1972 The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 12B: 1972 The Quilt (Deluxe Edition) The Quilt (Deluxe Edition) Twist of Motown Twist of Motown I'd Love You to Want Me 70s Greatest Hits I'd Love You to Want Me 70s Greatest Hits Motown: The Complete No. 1's Motown: The Complete No. 1's Rolling Stone (feat. David Gonçalves) - Single Rolling Stone (feat. David Gonçalves) - Single Absolutely the Best 70s Album! Absolutely the Best 70s Album! A Brand New World A Brand New World Motown & More Motown & More Motown Year By Year - The Sound of Young America 1987 Motown Year By Year - The Sound of Young America 1987 The Most Awesome Mix of '70s Funk All Hits The Most Awesome Mix of '70s Funk All Hits Papa Was A Rolling Stone: Soul 70s Hits Papa Was A Rolling Stone: Soul 70s Hits Solid Gold: The Soul Collection Solid Gold: The Soul Collection