🎵 Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone // by The Temptations

49 Contributors Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone Lyrics The Temptations' “Papa Was A Rollin' Stone” was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and produced by Whitfield. Released as a single on the Gordy label in late September 1972, the song became an… Read More  [Verse 1: Dennis Edwards] 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, yeah (Wherever he laid his hat was his home) (And when he died) All he left us was (Alone) Well, well [Verse 2: Dennis Edwards, Melvin Williams and Richard Street] 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 I heard them talking 'bout papa doing some store front preachin' Talkin' about saving souls and all the time leechin' Dealing in dirt, 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), hey (Papa was a rolling stone) Dadgummit (Wherever he laid his hat was his home) (And when he died) All he left us was (Alone) Uhh [Verse 3: Damon Harris and Richard Street] 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, well, well (Wherever he laid his hat was his home) Hey, yeah, huh (And when he died) All he left us was alone-lone-lone-lone, alone (Papa was a rolling stone) Huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh (Wherever he laid his hat was his home) Hey, yeah (And when he died) All he left us was alone, I said (Papa was a rolling stone) Yes, he was (Wherever he laid his hat was his home) Huh-huh-huh (And when he died) All he left us was alone My daddy was (Papa was a rolling stone) Yes, he was hey yeah (Wherever he laid his hat was his home) [Outro] Ahh, haha