The Temptations

Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - A Classic by The Temptations (1972)

The song Papa Was a Rollin' Stone was released by The Temptations in 1972. It was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. The song became a huge hit and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.


The Temptations

Did You Know

  • Papa Was a Rollin' Stone by The Temptations was released in 1972 as a single and later included in their album "All Directions."
  • The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and won three Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
  • It has a distinctive instrumental introduction, featuring a prominent bassline, which has been sampled and used in various other songs and remixes over the years.

Comments

@lionprinceashanti7912: A timeless classic. Here in 2022 and still loving it. Sound is tight and funky as ever.

@SimonHunt999: 50 years ago today, this tale of an absent father hit #1 in the USA. The single version was nearly 7 mins long, with this mesmerising string-brass arrangement from Paul Riser; producer Norman Whitfield's broad landscape of sound; & guitarist Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin propelling the urgency. As a 10 year old, even listening to it on an AM transistor radio was like being transported to a different contemplative space - sometimes they'd play the full 12 minute album version, no commercial breaks to shatter the mood. Still quite a journey.

@FamiliaPOPA13: It's 2023, let's see how many people are still listening to this masterpiece - it's just a timeless classic! washhands

Lyrics

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
Mama, I'm depending on you
To tell me the truth
Mama just hung her head and said, "Son,..

[Chorus:]
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."

Hey, mama!
Is it true what they say that papa never worked a day in his life?
And, mama, some bad talk goin' round town sayin' that papa had three outside children and another wife,
And that ain't right
Heard them talking papa doing some store front preachin'
Talked about saving souls and all the time leechin'
Dealing in debt and stealing in the name of the Lord
Mama just hung her head and said,

[Chorus]
"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.
Papa was a rolling stone.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

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 papa never was much on thinking
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
Mama, I'm depending on you
To tell me the truth
Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said, "Son,..

[Chorus]
Papa was a rolling stone (well, well...)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

[Chorus]
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
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

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