Papa Was A Rolling Stone
Queen / George Michael Lyrics

It was the third of september
The date of September 3rd is significant and memorable.

That day I'll always remember, yes I will
The singer feels a strong emotional connection to the day of September 3rd.

´Cause that was the day that my daddy died
The singer's father passed away on September 3rd and this event had a profound impact on their life.

Never had a chance to see him, no
The artist never got the opportunity to meet their father.

Never heard nothin, but bad things about him
There are numerous negative rumors and stories about the artist's father.

Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
The singer wants their mother to be honest with them about their father.

Mama just hung her head and said
The singer's mother is not willing to give them the answers they seek.

(Chorus)
The repetition of this chorus emphasizes the theme of the song - the neglect and abandonment that the artist experienced from their father.

Papa was a rollin' stone
The father was never in one place for long and did not stay with his family.

Wherever he laid his hat was his home
The father was a wanderer and did not have a permanent residence.

(And when he died)
Even after his death, the father did not leave anything behind for his family to hold onto.

All he left us was alone (repeat)
The only thing the father left for his family was emptiness and loneliness.

Hey, mama, is it true what they say
The singer still has unanswered questions about their father.

That papa never worked a day in his life
Rumors suggest that the father never held a steady job.

Some bad talks going around sayin
There are many negative rumors and stories about the father circulating among the community.

Papa had three outside children
The father had children with other women outside of his marriage.

And another wife
The father was unfaithful to his spouse and had another wife.

That ain't right
The singer expresses disapproval towards their father's behavior.

Heard some talks about papa and his storefront
The father was involved in some questionable business practices.

Preachin'
The father presented himself as a religious figure.

Talkin' about saving souls and all the time
The father spoke about being able to rescue people's souls with his preaching.

Leaching
The father was parasitic and took advantage of others.

And dealing in the dirt
The father was involved in shady business dealings.

Stealin' in the name of the lord
The father may have used religion as a cover for unethical behavior.

But mama she just said
The singer's mother is not willing to provide them with more details about their father.

(Chorus)
The repetition of this chorus emphasizes the theme of the song - the neglect and abandonment that the singer experienced from their father.

Say, I heard my papa was a jack of all trades
The father had many different skills or jobs.

Is that what sent papa to an early grave?
The artist wonders whether their father's many ventures played a part in his premature death.

Folks say papa would beg, borrow or steal just
The father engaged in some unscrupulous activities to make ends meet.

To pay his bills
The father had financial difficulties and sometimes had trouble paying for basic necessities.

Hey, mama, folks say papa was ever much on thinkin'
There are rumors circulating about the father's lack of intelligence or wise decision-making.

Spent most of this time chasin' women and drinkin'
The father spent a considerable amount of his time pursuing women and consuming alcohol.

But mother, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
The artist still seeks an honest answer from their mother about their father.

But my mama she just said
The mother remains tight-lipped and does not provide more information about the father.

(Chorus 2x)
The repetition of this chorus emphasizes the theme of the song - the neglect and abandonment that the singer experienced from their father.

Oh my mama said
The mother's words give insight into the father's character.

And when he died
Even after his death, the father did not leave anything meaningful behind for his family.

All he left us was alone (repeat)
The father left his family with nothing but feelings of emptiness and loneliness.

All he left us
The father did not leave anything of value to his family when he passed away.

Can you believe he left us?
The artist expresses disbelief at the father's abandonment and lack of support for his family.

All alone yeah
The father's departure left the family feeling isolated and unsupported.

Yeah
This exclamation emphasizes the negative emotions that the singer feels towards their father.