...PAPA WAS A ROLLIN' STONE... by The Temptations
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*from 'All Directions' (1972)*

[Intro]
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[Verse 1]
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 It was the third of September; that day I'll always re-member, yes I will
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'Cos that was the day, that my daddy died.
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I never got a chance to see him;
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Never heard nothin' but bad things about him.
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Mama, I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth.
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(Spoken):   Mama just hung her head and said; son...

[Chorus]
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 Papa was a rollin' stone; 
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wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
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And when he died, all he left us was alone.
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 Papa was a rollin' stone, my son, yeah; 
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wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
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And when he died, all he left us was alo-o-o-ne.

[Instrumental]
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[Verse 2]
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Hey, Mama, is it true what they say that Papa never worked a day in his life?
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And mama, some bad talk going around town saying that Papa had three outside children,
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and another wife....and that ain't right
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Hey, I heard 'em talk about Papa doin' some store-front preaching
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Talkin' about saving souls and all the time leeching,
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Dealing in dirt, and stealing in the name of the Lord
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(Spoken) And mama just hung her head and said:

[Chorus]
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 Papa was a rollin' stone, my son; 
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wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
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And when he died, all he left us was alone.
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Hey, Papa was a rollin' stone, naturally 
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wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
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And when he died, all he left us was alo-o-o-ne.

[Instrumental]
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[Verse 3]
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Hey, Mama, I heard Papa call himself a jack of all trades;
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Tell me, is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
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Folks say Papa would beg borrow or steal to pay his bills.
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Hey, Mama, folks say Papa never was much on thinkin';
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Spend most of his time chasin' women and drinkin'
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Mama, I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth.
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(Spoken) Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said; "son...

[Chorus]
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Papa was a rollin' stone, my son; 
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wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
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And when he died, all he left us was alone, 'lone, 'lone, 'lone alone
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Papa was a rollin' stone, 
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wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
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And when he died, all he left us was alone, I said..

[Chorus]
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Papa was a rollin' stone,
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wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
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And when he died, all he left us was alo-o-o-ne.
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Hey, Papa was a rollin' stone, 
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wherever he laid his hat, was his home.
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Papa was a rolling stone