...PAPA WAS A ROLLIN' STONE... by The Temptations
E|------------------------------...................|
*from 'All Directions' (1972)*
[Intro]
Bbm
[Verse 1]
Bbm
It was the third of September; that day I'll always re-member, yes I will
Bbm
'Cos that was the day, that my daddy died.
Bbm
I never got a chance to see him;
Bbm
Never heard nothin' but bad things about him.
Bbm
Mama, I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth.
Bbm
(Spoken): Mama just hung her head and said; son...
[Chorus]
Bbm
Papa was a rollin' stone;
Bbm
wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
Bbm
And when he died, all he left us was alone.
Bbm
Papa was a rollin' stone, my son, yeah;
Bbm
wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
Bbm
And when he died, all he left us was alo-o-o-ne.
[Instrumental]
Bbm
[Verse 2]
Bbm
Hey, Mama, is it true what they say that Papa never worked a day in his life?
Bbm
And mama, some bad talk going around town saying that Papa had three outside children,
Bbm
and another wife....and that ain't right
Bbm
Hey, I heard 'em talk about Papa doin' some store-front preaching
Bbm
Talkin' about saving souls and all the time leeching,
Bbm
Dealing in dirt, and stealing in the name of the Lord
Bbm
(Spoken) And mama just hung her head and said:
[Chorus]
Bbm
Papa was a rollin' stone, my son;
Bbm
wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
Bbm
And when he died, all he left us was alone.
Bbm
Hey, Papa was a rollin' stone, naturally
Bbm
wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
Bbm
And when he died, all he left us was alo-o-o-ne.
[Instrumental]
Bbm
[Verse 3]
Bbm
Hey, Mama, I heard Papa call himself a jack of all trades;
Bbm
Tell me, is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
Bbm
Folks say Papa would beg borrow or steal to pay his bills.
Bbm
Hey, Mama, folks say Papa never was much on thinkin';
Bbm
Spend most of his time chasin' women and drinkin'
Bbm
Mama, I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth.
Bbm
(Spoken) Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said; "son...
[Chorus]
Bbm
Papa was a rollin' stone, my son;
Bbm
wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
Bbm
And when he died, all he left us was alone, 'lone, 'lone, 'lone alone
Bbm
Papa was a rollin' stone,
Bbm
wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
Bbm
And when he died, all he left us was alone, I said..
[Chorus]
Bbm
Papa was a rollin' stone,
Bbm
wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
Bbm
And when he died, all he left us was alo-o-o-ne.
Bbm
Hey, Papa was a rollin' stone,
Bbm
wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
Bbm
Papa was a rolling stone