The Temptations
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
(1972)

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

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Hey Mama, I heard Papa call himself a jack of all trade
          Tell me is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
Folk say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his bill
Hey Mama, folk 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

  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"
  "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"

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(fade out)