Artist
The Temptations
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
Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth
Momma just hung her head and said, son
2x
Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Where ever 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 them talking Papa doing some store front preachin'
Talked about saving souls and all the time reaching
Dealing in debt, and stealing in the name of the law
Momma just hung her head and said...
2x
Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
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...
4x
Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
and when he died, all he left us was alone
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
2x
Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Where ever 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 them talking Papa doing some store front preachin'
Talked about saving souls and all the time reaching
Dealing in debt, and stealing in the name of the law
Momma just hung her head and said...
2x
Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
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...
4x
Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
and when he died, all he left us was alone
RS500_rank
168
Length
6:54
BPM
121.2
Released Year
1972
Genre Era
Genre
Key
A#m
Produced By
Whitfield
Released Info
Oct. '72 on Gordy
Chart Weeks
16 weeks
Chart Top
No. 1
Musicbrainz ID
ad58161c-51f6-af54-1db6-3906e9e5c514
Song Note Source
Rolling Stone 500
Song of Day Date
Written By
Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Album
Anthology (Motown)
Song Status
At first the Temptations hated this song, especially Dennis Edwards: His father had died on September 3rd, just like the papa in the song. Then "Papa" topped the charts, and it "kind of grew on us," said Temptation Otis Williams.