The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone

"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a psychedelic soul song, written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong as a single for Motown act The Undisputed Truth in 1971. This version of "Papa" was released as a single in early 1972, and peaked at number 63 on the pop charts and number 24 on the R&B charts.

Later in 1972, Whitfield, who also produced the song, took "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" and remade it as a 12-minute record for The Temptations, which was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and won three Grammy Awards in 1973.

While the original Undisputed Truth version of the song has been largely forgotten, The Temptations' version of the song has been an enduring and influential soul classic. It was ranked #168 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, one of the group's three songs on the list. In retrospect, The Temptations' Otis Williams considers "Papa" to be the last real classic the group recorded.

"Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"

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 nothin' but bad things about him

Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth

Momma just hung her head and said, son

[Chorus]

Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)

Where ever he laid his hat was his home

and when he died, all he left us was alone

[Repeat 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 just hung her head and said...

[Chorus x2]

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..