[Lengthy instrumental intro.]
[Dennis:] 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 dependin' on you, to tell me the truth.
[Richard, spoken:] Momma just hung her head and said, son,
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Dennis:] All he left us was a(lone), un-huh.
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Dennis:] My son, yeah.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Dennis:] All he left us was a(lone).
[Ricahrd:] Well, well.
[Instrumental break.]
[Richard:] Hey Momma! Is it true what they say,
That Papa never worked a day in his life?
[Melvin:] And Momma, some bad talk goin' around town
Sayin' that Papa had three outside children,
And another wife, and that ain't right.
[Dennis:] Heard them talk about Papa doin' some sto'front preachin'.
Talked about savin' souls and all the time leachin'.
Dealin' in debt and stealin' in the name of the Lord.
[Richard, spoken:] Momma just hung her head and said,
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Richard:] My son.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Richard:] All he left us was a(lone), hey.
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Richard:] Dad-gum it.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Richard:] All he left us was a(lone). Ungh!
[Instrumental break.]
[Damon:] Hey Momma! I heard Papa called himself a Jack-of-all-trades.
Tell me, is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
[Richard:] Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his bills.
[Dennis:] Hey Momma! Folks say Papa never was much on thinkin'.
Spent most of his time chasin' women and drinkin'.
[Damon:] Momma, I'm dependin' on you, to tell me the truth.
[Richard, spoken:] Momma looked up with a tear in her eye and said, son,
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Damon:] Well, well, well, well.
[Temptations:] Wherever he (hey, yeah) laid his hat was his home (huh).
And when he died,
[Damon:] All he left us was a(lone), lone, lone, lone, alone.
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Damon:] Un-huh-huh-a-huh. Hey-ay-yeah.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Damon:] All he left us was a(lone).
I say yeah,
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Damon:] Yes he was, my son. Whoo-ooo.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Damon:] All he left us was a(lone).
My daddy was, yes he was.
Hey, yeah.
[Intrumental outro.]
[Dennis:] 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 dependin' on you, to tell me the truth.
[Richard, spoken:] Momma just hung her head and said, son,
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Dennis:] All he left us was a(lone), un-huh.
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Dennis:] My son, yeah.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Dennis:] All he left us was a(lone).
[Ricahrd:] Well, well.
[Instrumental break.]
[Richard:] Hey Momma! Is it true what they say,
That Papa never worked a day in his life?
[Melvin:] And Momma, some bad talk goin' around town
Sayin' that Papa had three outside children,
And another wife, and that ain't right.
[Dennis:] Heard them talk about Papa doin' some sto'front preachin'.
Talked about savin' souls and all the time leachin'.
Dealin' in debt and stealin' in the name of the Lord.
[Richard, spoken:] Momma just hung her head and said,
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Richard:] My son.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Richard:] All he left us was a(lone), hey.
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Richard:] Dad-gum it.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Richard:] All he left us was a(lone). Ungh!
[Instrumental break.]
[Damon:] Hey Momma! I heard Papa called himself a Jack-of-all-trades.
Tell me, is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
[Richard:] Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his bills.
[Dennis:] Hey Momma! Folks say Papa never was much on thinkin'.
Spent most of his time chasin' women and drinkin'.
[Damon:] Momma, I'm dependin' on you, to tell me the truth.
[Richard, spoken:] Momma looked up with a tear in her eye and said, son,
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Damon:] Well, well, well, well.
[Temptations:] Wherever he (hey, yeah) laid his hat was his home (huh).
And when he died,
[Damon:] All he left us was a(lone), lone, lone, lone, alone.
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Damon:] Un-huh-huh-a-huh. Hey-ay-yeah.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Damon:] All he left us was a(lone).
I say yeah,
[Temptations:] Papa was a rollin' stone,
[Damon:] Yes he was, my son. Whoo-ooo.
[Temptations:] Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died,
[Damon:] All he left us was a(lone).
My daddy was, yes he was.
Hey, yeah.
[Intrumental outro.]