Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone Lyrics

It was the third of September; that day I'll always remember,
'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.

Spoken:
Mama just hung her head and said Son,

Chorus:
Sung:
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
All he left us was alone.

Repeat Chrous

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,
That Papa had three outside children and another wife.
And that ain't right!

Heard some talk about Papa doin' some storefront preachin'.
Talkin' about savin' souls, and all the time leachin'.
Dealin' in dirt!
And stealing in the name of the Lord.

Spoken:
Mama just hung her head and said:

Chrous

Repeat Chrous

Hey, Mama, I heard Papa call himself a jack of all trades.
Tell me, is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, or steal to pay his bills.
Hey, Mama, folks say Papa was never much on thinkin';
Spend most of his time chasin' women and drinkin'!
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth.

Spoken:
Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said

Chrous

Repeat Chorus