Born and raised in west London, Collins played drums from the age of five and completed drama school training, which secured him various roles as a child actor, with his first major role, aged 13, as the Artful Dodger in the West End musical Oliver!. He then pursued a music career, joining Genesis in 1970 as their drummer and becoming lead singer in 1975 following the departure of Peter Gabriel. Collins began a successful solo career in the 1980s, initially inspired by his marital breakdown and love of soul music, releasing the albums Face Value (1981), Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982), No Jacket Required (1985) and ...But Seriously (1989). Collins became, in the words of AllMusic, "one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the '80s and beyond". He also became known for a distinctive gated reverb drum sound on many of his recordings. In 1985, he was the only artist to perform at both Live Aid concerts. He also resumed his acting career, appearing in Miami Vice and subsequently starring in the film Buster (1988). In 1996, Collins left Genesis to focus on solo work; this included writing songs for Disney's Tarzan (1999) for which he received an Oscar for Best Original Song for "You'll Be in My Heart". He rejoined Genesis for their Turn It On Again Tour in 2007. Following a five-year retirement to focus on his family life, Collins released an autobiography in 2016 and completed his Not Dead Yet Tour in 2019. He then rejoined Genesis in 2020 for a second reunion tour, ending in March 2022.
Collins's discography includes eight studio albums that have sold 33.5 million certified units in the US and an estimated 150 million records sold worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists. He is one of only three recording artists, along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, who have sold over 100 million records both as solo artists and separately as principal members of a band. He has won eight Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards (winning Best British Male Artist three times), two Golden Globe Awards, one Academy Award, and a Disney Legend Award. He was awarded six Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, including the International Achievement Award. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. He has also been recognised by music publications with induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Collins
Studio albums
Face Value (1981)
Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982)
No Jacket Required (1985)
...But Seriously (1989)
Both Sides (1993)
Dance into the Light (1996)
Testify (2002)
Going Back (2010)
Papa Was A Rolling Stone
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Papa was a rolling stone,
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone,
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
[Chorus]
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 hung her head and said
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics in Phil Collins's song "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" tell the story of a son seeking the truth about his father's life after he passed away. The lyrics suggest that his father was never present in his life and was known for being a rolling Stone, never staying in one place for too long. The son wants to know the truth about his father, whether he was a good man or not. However, his mother avoids answering his questions directly and only confirms what the son already knows: his father was a rolling stone, with no real home or stability. She confirms that his father had questionable character and habits, including having extramarital affairs and joining shady business dealings. The chorus repeats the phrase "Papa was a rolling stone" to emphasize the father's wandering ways and to heighten the sense of desolation and isolation they feel after his death.
Line by Line Meaning
It was the third of September
The day that my father died
That day I'll always remember, yes I will
The day my daddy passed away, the day that changed everything
'Cause that was the day, that my daddy died
That is the reason why Papa's death is always remembered
I never got a chance to see him
I never had the opportunity to meet him
Never heard nothin' but bad things about him
I grew up hearing only bad things about him
Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth
I need to trust that you will be honest with me, Mama
Momma just hung her head and said
Mama was too sad to respond
Papa was a rolling stone,
My father could never settle in one place
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
He made wherever he went a home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
His death brought loneliness in our lives
Hey Momma!
Mama, can you tell me about Papa?
Is it true what they say that Papa never worked a day, in his life
Did Papa never have a real job in his life?
And Momma, some bad talk goin' round town sayin' that Papa had three outside children
Mama, is it true that Papa had three children with another woman?
And another wife, and that ain't right
It is not fair for Papa to have another wife and family
Heard them talking Papa doing some store front preachin'
People were talking about Papa preaching on the street
Talked about saving souls and all the time reaching
He was talking about saving people's souls and trying to reach them
Dealing in debt, and stealing in the name of the law
He might have been committing illegal acts in the name of the law
Momma hung her head and said
Mama was saddened and had no answer
Hey Momma,
Mama, can you tell me about Papa again?
I heard Papa called himself a jack of all trades
Papa identified as someone who could do anything
Tell me is that what sent Papa to an early grave
Did such diverse activities contribute to Papa's premature death?
Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal
People claim that he begged, borrowed, and stole
To pay his bills
He might have done these things to cover his expenses
Hey Momma,
Mama, I need to hear the truth once again
Folks say Papa never was much on thinking
People say Papa never thought things through
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
Papa spent his time pursuing women and drinking alcohol
Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth
Mama, please tell me the truth
Momma looked up with a tear in her eye and said, son
Mama looked at me with tears and finally told me what she knew
Papa was a rolling stone,
Papa could never settle down
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
Papa would make any place feel like home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
When he passed away, he left us only with loneliness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Agent Bosconian
It was the third of September
September, 3rd. It was the day that forever changed my life.
That day I'll always remember, yes I will
It was the day that I'll never forget about what had happened at that time.
'Cause that was the day, that my daddy died
The day that my estranged father; who was never around, had perished.
I never got a chance to see him
There wasn't an opportunity for me to even meet the man; not once.
Never heard nothin' but bad things about him
All that I've ever heard about were just awful, terrible, and cruel things that he did.
Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth
Please tell me, Mother. Who and what this man truly was, and what he'd done?
Momma just hung her head and said
My Mother hung her head in sadness; thus she responded in her sorrowful voice to me...
Papa was a rolling stone,
My dear child.... Your Father was a man who could never stay in one place to settle down, and was a selfish person who never cared for anyone; but only for himself..
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
He had gone from one place to another with his hat that he wore; and wherever he put his hat down, he settled in there.
And when he died, all he left us was alone
By the time of his death, all that was left behind from him was loneliness and pain.
Hey Momma!
Mother, can you tell me anything about this Father of mine?
Is it true what they say that Papa never worked a day, in his life
Is it the truth that he never had lifted a finger to work at all; in his entire life?
And Momma, some bad talk goin' round town sayin' that Papa had three outside children
And according to the people that knew him all too well; that he also have bore three other children with his lover?
And another wife, and that ain't right
Such a disgraceful thing to hide about having another woman to be his wife.
Heard them talking Papa doing some store front preachin'
Some people eventually talked about his deceitful tricks, such as being a so-called "Preacher" at his store chapel.
Talked about saving souls and all the time leeching
He pretended to act like he was a priest and tricked many people into saving their souls; but at the same time, he robbed them of their hard-earned money.
Dealing in debt, and stealing in the name of the Lord
Trapped himself into debt with such evil acts; thus had stolen everything in the Lord's name.
Momma hung her head and said
My own Mother shook her head in a disgusted matter...
Papa was a rolling stone,
My dear child.... Your Father was a man who could never stay in one place to settle down, and was a selfish person who never cared for anyone; but only for himself.
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
He had gone from one place to another with his hat that he wore; and wherever he put his hat down, he settled in there.
And when he died, all he left us was alone
By the time of his death, all that was left behind from him was loneliness and pain.
Hey Momma,
I must know the whole truth about this wretched man. What else is there for you to tell me, Mother?
I heard Papa called himself a jack of all trades
Others had said that "Father" believed that he was a Jack-Of-All-Trades; thinking that he was unstoppable at anything that he had done to others.
Tell me is that what sent Papa to an early grave
Were these criminal actions that Father had committed in his lifetime; unaware of the consequences that he made, the main reason that put him in a six-foot grave of his own in a cemetery?
Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal
Everyone already knew that the bastard was a beggar, a deceiver, and a thief.
To pay his bills
He committed every single criminal activity; in order to pay the debts that he had.
Hey Momma,
But, Mother...
Folks say Papa never was much on thinking
Father had no knowledge of how to take on responsibility on such difficult situations, some other people had also spoke of.
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
He was nothing but a alcoholic who'd drink so much to his heart's content; as being a philanderer, who would go and become intimate with one woman to another woman; for his own selfish indulgence.
Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth
Is this the entire truth about this disgraceful, cruel, trickster of a Father, Mother?
Momma looked up with a tear in her eye and said, son
Tears stream down on Mother's face; as she spoke one last time about him...
Papa was a rolling stone,
Once again, my child... Your Father was a man who could never stay in one place to settle down, and was a selfish person who never cared for anyone; but only for himself.
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
He had always gone from one place to another with his hat; and wherever he put his hat down, he settled in there.
And when he died, all he left us was alone
By the time of his death, all that was left behind from him was loneliness and pain.
@erwin3274
Hi Tom,
I don't know if Phil Collins was a big Temps fan (but I'm sure he was).
He had a big band and many singers in his background.
But to tell my personal truth ... he is only half as good as the original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXiQtD5gcHU
"Papa was a rolling stone" was and is myfavorite songs for ever.
I also like the version by George Michael ("Killer").
Greetings from Germany
Erwin
(I hope you understand my bad english)
@petermacdonald1857
Oh my god . This has totally changed my life , only 63 just now . Xxxxxxx
@butchergonemad6520
Nah too late you're fucked 😂
@harleygal420
Anyone here because you loved this song in the 70's? Whether it's the Temptations or Phil Collins & Company, both are awesome. This is what you call great music.
@baggykev
Just found this version and was worried about Phil's vocal to this. Great cover,great band backing him up.
@galegreyson4196
The original Temptations absolutely. It’s a beautiful piece of music. They reproduce it here well. But go back and listen to the original vocals and the way they intertwined their vocal threads. Phil Collins is a musical genius in his own right. And no one can do his songs like him.
@thestrengthwithin4249
@@baggykev I thought the same, however Phil,s vocals are amazing 🤩 and the band also 🙌
@florinmugurstepanov2177
10.2022, and on .
@jasonkojack9423
Classic
@karstengrunberg2477
Klasse das er sich an diesen Song rantraut .Gut gemacht