About the song
“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” is a soul classic that has stood the test of time. Originally performed by the Undisputed Truth in 1972, the song gained widespread recognition after a Grammy-award winning cover by the Temptations was released later that year. The Temptations’ version became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains an enduring and influential soul classic.
The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1971 and produced by Whitfield. The original Undisputed Truth version peaked at number 63 on the Pop Charts and number 24 on the R&B Charts. However, it was the Temptations’ version that truly brought the song to life. The 12-minute track features an extended instrumental introduction and three verses, each separated by extended musical passages. The song’s theme is a simple three-note figure played on a plucked bass guitar, backed by hi-hat cymbals drumming, and gradually joined by other instruments.
The song’s lyrics tell the story of a group of siblings questioning their mother about their now-dead father. The mother’s repeated response, “Papa was a rollin’ stone/wherever he laid his hat was his home/and when he died, all he left us was alone,” paints a somber picture for the children who have never seen their father and have “never heard nothing but bad things about him.”
The recording of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” was not without its challenges. The Temptations did not like the fact that Whitfield’s instrumentation was getting more emphasis than their vocals on their songs at the time, and they had to press Whitfield to produce ballads for the group. Whitfield also forced Dennis Edwards to re-record his parts dozens of times until he got the angered, bitter grumble he desired out of the usually fiery-toned Edwards. This treatment of the group eventually led to Whitfield’s dismissal as their producer.
Despite the challenges, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” remains a classic. The full-length album version was ranked number 169 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 the song to be the last real classic the group recorded.
Video
Lyrics
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
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
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 some talk Papa doing some storefront preachin’
Talking about saving souls and all the time leechin’
Dealing in dirt, and stealing in the name of the Lord
Momma just hung her head and said
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 (dad gumma it)
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
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
Papa was a rolling stone (well, well, well, well)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
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
And when he died, all he left us was alone
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, yeah)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home)