Killer/Papa Was A Rolling Stone
George Michael and Queen Lyrics
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To live your life the way you want to be
Will you give if we cry
Will we live or will we die?
Tainted hearts heal with time
Shoot bad love so we can stop the bleeding
Is there still a part of you that wants to live?
Solitary sister
Is there still a part of you that wants to give?
Solitary brother
Is there still a part of you that wants to live?
Solitary sister
Is there still a part of you that wants to give?
It was the third of September
That day I'll always remember, yes I will
Because that was the day that my daddy died
Never had a chance to see him, no
Never heard nothin' but bad things about him
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
My mama just hung her head and said
Papa was a Rollin' Stone
Yeah, wherever he laid his hat was home
And when he died
All he left us was alone
Then my mama she said
(Papa was a Rollin' Stone) oh, my mama said
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us, all he left us
Can you believe he left us
All alone, yeah
All alone, yeah
All alone, yeah
Yeah
The lyrics to George Michael and Queen's song "Killer/Papa Was A Rolling Stone" reflect on themes of freedom, love, and family, as well as the complexities of relationships and the challenges of navigating life in a world filled with pain and uncertainty. The opening lines of the song express a desire for personal freedom and independence, with the question of whether one is willing to sacrifice and give for others in times of crisis. The lyric "tainted hearts heal with time" suggests the potential for healing and growth even in the face of past hurt and betrayal, while "shoot bad love so we can stop the bleeding" speaks to the importance of letting go of toxic relationships and negative patterns in order to move forward.
The middle section of the song addresses the experience of being alone and feeling disconnected from oneself and others. The repeated questions of "is there still a part of you that wants to live/give?" highlight the struggle to maintain a sense of purpose and meaning in difficult circumstances. The song then shifts to a narrative about the death of the singer's father, who had been absent and largely unknown throughout his life. The line "Papa was a Rolling Stone" refers to the classic song by The Temptations, which tells the story of a womanizer who leaves a string of broken relationships in his wake. In this song, it serves to underscore the father's irresponsibility and failure to provide emotional support to his family.
Overall, the lyrics of "Killer/Papa Was A Rolling Stone" combine personal reflection with social commentary, touching on issues of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
So you want to be free?
Do you desire freedom?
To live your life the way you want to be
To live the life you want without interference
Will you give if we cry
Will you contribute if we're in tears?
Will we live or will we die?
Will we survive or perish?
Tainted hearts heal with time
Damaged hearts recover with patience
Shoot bad love so we can stop the bleeding
Eliminate harmful love so that we can heal
Solitary brother
Isolated brother
Is there still a part of you that wants to live?
Is there still hope left in you?
Solitary sister
Isolated sister
Is there still a part of you that wants to give?
Is there still a part of you that wants to help?
It was the third of September
It was the third day of September
That day I'll always remember, yes I will
I'll never forget that day
Because that was the day that my daddy died
Because that was the day my father passed away
Never had a chance to see him, no
I never got to meet him
Never heard nothin' but bad things about him
Only negative stories were told about him
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
Mom, I need you to be honest with me
My mama just hung her head and said
My mother simply bowed her head and stated
Papa was a Rollin' Stone
Father was a wanderer
Yeah, wherever he laid his hat was home
Wherever he rested his hat, he called home
And when he died
And upon his passing
All he left us was alone
He left us only solitude
Then my mama she said
Then my mother spoke again
(Papa was a Rollin' Stone) oh, my mama said
(Father was a wanderer) is what Mom said
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
Wherever he rested his hat, he regarded as home
And when he died
And after he passed away
All he left us, all he left us
He left us, he left us
Can you believe he left us
Do you grasp that he abandoned us
All alone, yeah
All by ourselves, yeah
All alone, yeah
All by ourselves, yeah
All alone, yeah
All by ourselves, yeah
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ADAM PAUL TINLEY, HENRY OLUSEGUN ADEOLA SAMUEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karstenkruse8111
Oh George,
oh David,
oh Prince,
oh Leonard,
oh Rick,
what kind of great music you all gave us
now you are in heaven and come together for a new band.
We people on planet earth
will miss you all for the great time you gave me.
@Elvas666
I actually have this album in cassette tape! One of my absolute favorite songs by George Michael. I had the privilege of seeing him live in concert back in the early 90's. The man's voice is better live than on his recordings. Amazing voice.
@lolamay44
Elvas666 Me too😃! The only George Michael music I own is
THIS: Five Alive ( Bought this CD when it was released) Never was a fan ... until I heard: "Somebody to Love" w/ Lisa Stansfield. THIS CD IS ABSOLUTELY SOULFUL❤❤❤!
@deluxedjsireland224
I wish I'd seen him live
@felixvarela1150
@@lolamay44 p
@7seasoflove
@@lolamay44 Lisa didn't sing with him on STL
@LeslieChimes
Best version of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" ever recorded.
@vincentheideyer4651
Yes
@tashahass8597
George always had a knack for improving old favorites 😊
@TheScouser2112
Couldn't agree more 👏
@deluxedjsireland224
George was brilliant. He really was.