The Temptations: Papa Was A Rolling 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 nothing but bad things about him
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth

And Mama 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
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Well, well

Hey Mama, is it true what they say
That Papa never worked a day in his life?
And Mama, some bad talk going around town
Saying that Papa had three outside children and another wife
And that ain't right
Hey, talk about Papa doing some store front preaching
Talked about saving souls and all the time leeching
Dealing in debt and stealing in the name of the Lord

Mama 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
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Uh

Hey Mama, 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 Mama, folks say that Papa was never much on thinking
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth

And Mama 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
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone