Song 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:Repeat x2]
"Papa was a rollin' stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when his 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, there's been talk all around town
Sayin' that Papa had three outside children and another wife
And that ain't right!
Heard some talk about Papa doin' some storefront preachin'
Talked about savin' souls and all the time leachin'
Dealin' in drugs and stealin' in the name of the Lord
Mama just hung her head and said, "Son"

[Chorus]

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 or steal to pay his bills
Hey, Mama, folks say Papa was never much on thinkin'
Spent most of his time chasin' women and drinkin'
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
Mama looked up with a tear and said, "Son"

[Chorus]

Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield

The duration of Papa Was a Rollin' Stone is 3:12 minutes and seconds.