Papa Was A Rolling Stone Rare Earth

Papa Was A Rollin Stone Album: Rare Earth (1977)
by Rare Earth

"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a song originally performed by Motown recording act the Undisputed Truth in 1972, though it became much better known after a Grammy-award winning cover by the Temptations was issued later the same year. This latter version of the song became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1971. Whitfield produced the original Undisputed Truth version, which was released as a single in May 1972. This version of the song peaked at number 63 on the Pop Charts and number 24 on the R&B Charts. The song was included on the Undisputed Truth's album Law of the Land (1973).

Later in 1972, Whitfield cut a different version of the song, turning it into a 12-minute track for the Temptations. This version was included on their 1972 album All Directions. The edited 7-inch single release of this Temptations track was issued in September 1972, and this version 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 regarded as an enduring and influential soul 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 (it would be the Temptations' last number one hit and would win them their second and final Grammy Award in a competitive category).

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 meet 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
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
and when he died, all he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone
Where ever 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, there's some bad talk goin' round town sayin'
that Papa had three outside children
And another wife, and that ain't right
Folks say Papa did some store front preachin'
Talked about saving souls and all the time leaching
Dealing in debt, and stealing in the name of the law
Momma just hung her head and said, son
Papa was a rolling stone
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
and when he died, all he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone, son, son
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
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 just hung her head and said, son...
Papa was a rolling stone
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
and when he died, all he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone, son, son
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
and when he died, all he left us was alone
Momma just hung her head and said
Papa was a rolling stone, son, son
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
and when he died, all he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
and when he died, all he left us was alone
It was alone, all he left us was alone
Momma said it was alone