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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Dennis Edwards
Vocals
Damon Harris
Vocals
Richard Street
Vocals
Melvin Franklin
Vocals
Johnny Griffith
Organ
Maurice Davis
Trumpet
M. RAGIN
Guitar
Paul Warren
Guitar
Paul Riser
Conductor
Eddie Brown
Percussion
Jack Brokensha
Percussion
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Barrett Strong
Songwriter
Norman Whitfield
Songwriter
Paul Riser
Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Norman Whitfield
Producer
Orson Lewis
Mastering Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
Mama just hung her head and said, "Son
[Chorus]
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, yeah
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone"
Well, well
[Verse 2]
Hey, Mama
Is it true what they say, that Papa never worked a day in his life?
And Mama, some bad talk goin' around town
Sayin' that Papa had three outside children
And another wife, and that ain't right
Heard some talk about Papa doing some storefront preachin'
Talkin' about saving souls and all the time leechin'
Dealing in dirt and stealin' in the name of the Lord
Mama just hung her head and said
[Chorus]
"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
Papa was a rolling stone, dadgummit
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone"
Uh
[Verse 3]
Hey, Mama
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, Mama
Folks say Papa never was 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
[Chorus]
Papa was a rolling stone"
Well, well, well, well
"Wherever he laid his hat was his home"
Hey, yeah, huh
"And when he died
All he left us was alone-lone-lone-lone, alone
Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home"
Hey, yeah
"And when he died
All he left us was alone," I said
[Chorus]
"Papa was a rolling stone"
Yes, he was
"Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone"
My daddy was
"Papa was a rolling stone"
Yes, he was, hey, yeah
"Wherever he laid his hat was his home"
[Outro]
Ah, haha
Written by: Norman Whitfield