Papa was a Rollin Stone
The Temptation Lyrics


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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.

Mama just looked at him and said, "Son,
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

Hey, Mama, is it true what the say, that Papa never worked a day in his life?
And Mama, they talk all around town say that
Papa had three outside children and another wife
And that ain't right.
Heard them talkin' about Papa doing some storefront preachin'
Talkin' about saving your souls and all the time weak, dealin' in death
And stealin' in the name of the Lord
Mama just hung her head and said,

Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

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.

Mama just hung her head and said, "Son,
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

Papa was a rollin' stone.




Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."

Overall Meaning

The Temptation's song "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" explores the singer's desperation for the truth about his father. The song begins with the singer stating that September 3rd was the day his daddy died and he never got to see him as he was always surrounded by bad things. The singer then turns to his mother and asks her to share the truth about his father. The mother responds that his father was a rolling stone, and wherever he laid his head, that was his home. She sheds light on his father's irresponsibility and infidelity, stating that he had three outside children and another wife. The mother also mentions how people talked about his father being a preacher and saving people's souls but was secretly dealing in death and stealing in the name of the Lord.


The song deals with the common theme of absentee fathers who abandon their families and live a reckless life. The father in this song is portrayed as a man who never held down a job, was always on the move, and preferred drinking and chasing women over providing for his family. The mother's response to the singer is a reflection of her past experiences with the man and her acceptance of his behavior.


Line by Line Meaning

It was the third of September; that day I'll always remember, 'Cause that was the day that my daddy died.
The singer recalls the third of September as the day his father passed away and it remains a vivid memory in his mind.


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.
The singer never had the opportunity to meet his dad and has only been told negative stories about him, so he turns to his mother for the truth.


Mama just looked at him and said, 'Son, Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his head was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone.'
The mother responds to her son's questions by admitting that the father was a wandering, unfaithful man who never provided stability to the family and left them with nothing but loneliness when he passed away.


Hey, Mama, is it true what the say, that Papa never worked a day in his life? And Mama, they talk all around town say that Papa had three outside children and another wife And that ain't right.
The singer asks his mother if rumors are true that his father was jobless and had other children and wives outside of their family, and he finds it morally wrong.


Heard them talkin' about Papa doing some storefront preachin', Talkin' about saving your souls and all the time weak, dealin' in death And stealin' in the name of the Lord Mama just hung her head and said,
The singer remembers hearing gossip about his father pretending to be a preacher and using religion to manipulate people, ultimately causing harm, and his mother reacts to this with sadness and disappointment.


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.
The singer continues to question his mother about his father's choices and actions in life, such as claiming to be skilled in many areas and resorting to theft to make ends meet, while also being irresponsible with his time and priorities. He still seeks honesty from his mother.


Mama just hung her head and said, 'Son, Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his head was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone.'
The mother once again affirms that the father was a wandering figure who made many mistakes and left the family with nothing but their own company, giving a summary of his legacy.


Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his head was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone.
This refrain is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that the father was an unpredictable, uncommitted man who could never provide consistent love and security to his family, even in death.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@drwdo

My grandfather is/was one of the violins in the intro. He’s on several Motown tracks and played 46 years in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He died in May, and when we miss him we listen to music. ❤️ 😭

@msl5253

Hey Drwdbo
Beautiful story and sorry for your loss with your grand father.

@elenaarman-tang7811

R.I.P. to your very talented grandfather 🙏😘❤

@alfredszabo1817

God bless him 🙏 ❤️

@alfredszabo1817

My grandpa had to play on Russian guitar 🎸, he had no choice on his faith!

@naumnaumoski3816

God bless him

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@walter9724

The intro itself could be used in any 1970s movie car chase scene. I'm 46 and I was raised on this music. And I'm a white Australian

@hendrikdebruin4012

I am a white African and I agree mate.

@potterj09

41 here. My dad knew a lot about film and The Blues Brothers was always a cool film we shared. I play guitar now because of it.

@user-qg5xo6wu1e

That baseline. The horns. The strings. Back when every section had to be recorded separately. This is amazing.

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