Lyrics: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Music: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
A Temptations song covered by Donna Jean and the Tricksters and by the Mickey Hart Band.
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 nothing but bad things about him
Mama, I'm depending on you, tell me the truth
And Mama just hung her head and said
Son, Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone, my son
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he 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, bad talk going around town
saying that Papa had three outside children and another wife
And that ain't right
Heard some talk about Papa doing some store front preaching
TalkIN about saving souls and all the time leeching
Dealing in debt and stealing in the name of the Lord
And Mama just hung her head and said
Son, Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone, my son
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone
Hey Mama, I heard Papa call himself a jack of all trade
Tell me is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
Folk say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his bill
Hey Mama, folk say that Papa was never much on thinking
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said
Son, Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone, my son
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone, my son
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone, my son
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone