Papa Was a Rolling Stone

Norman Whitfield

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
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)

Trivia about the song Papa Was a Rolling Stone by The Temptations

On which albums was the song “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” released by The Temptations?
The Temptations released the song on the albums “All Directions” in 1972 and “20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection Vol. 2” in 2000.
Who composed the song “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” by The Temptations?
The song “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” by The Temptations was composed by Norman Whitfield.

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