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Papa Was A Rollin Stone

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...PAPA WAS A ROLLIN' STONE... by The Temptations
------------------------------...................
*from 'All Directions' (1972)*
[Intro]
Bbm
[Verse 1]
 BbmIt 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.
BbmI never got a chance to see him;
BbmNever heard nothin' but bad things about him.
BbmMama, I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth.
Bbm(Spoken):   Mama just hung her head and said; son...
[Chorus]
 BbmPapa was a rollin' stone; 
Bbmwherever he laid his hat, was his home.
And Bbmwhen he died, all he left us was alone.
 BbmPapa was a rollin' stone, my son, yeah; 
Bbmwherever he laid his hat, was his home.
BbmAnd when he died, all he left us was alo-o-o-ne.
[Instrumental]
Bbm
[Verse 2]
BbmHey, Mama, is it true what they say that Papa never worked a day in his life?
BbmAnd mama, some bad talk going around town saying that Papa had three outside children,
Bbmand another wife....and that ain't right
BbmHey, I heard 'em talk about Papa doin' some store-front preaching
BbmTalkin' about saving souls and all the time leeching,
BbmDealing in dirt, and stealing in the name of the Lord
Bbm(Spoken) And mama just hung her head and said:
[Chorus]
 BbmPapa was a rollin' stone, my son; 
Bbmwherever he laid his hat, was his home.
BbmAnd when he died, all he left us was alone.
BbmHey, Papa was a rollin' stone, naturally 
Bbmwherever he laid his hat, was his home.
BbmAnd when he died, all he left us was alo-o-o-ne.
[Instrumental]
Bbm
[Verse 3]
BbmHey, Mama, I heard Papa call himself a jack of all trades;
BbmTell me, is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
BbmFolks say Papa would beg borrow or steal to pay his bills.
BbmHey, Mama, folks say Papa never was much on thinkin';
BbmSpend most of his time chasin' women and drinkin'
BbmMama, 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]
BbmPapa was a rollin' stone, my son; 
Bbmwherever he laid his hat, was his home.
BbmAnd when he died, all he left us was alone, 'lone, 'lone, 'lone alone
BbmPapa was a rollin' stone, 
Bbmwherever he laid his hat, was his home.
BbmAnd when he died, all he left us was alone, I said..
[Chorus]
BbmPapa was a rollin' stone,
Bbmwherever he laid his hat, was his home.
BbmAnd when he died, all he left us was alo-o-o-ne.
BbmHey, Papa was a rollin' stone, 
Bbmwherever he laid his hat, was his home.
BbmPapa was a rolling stone
[Instrumental to fade]
Bbm

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Papa Was A Rollin Stone

by The Temptations

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Bbm

...PAPA WAS A ROLLIN' STONE... by The Temptations

------------------------------...................

*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

[Instrumental to fade]

Bbm

About Papa Was A Rollin Stone Chords by The Temptations

Learn how to play Papa Was A Rollin Stone by The Temptations with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Papa Was A Rollin Stone chords”, “Papa Was A Rollin Stone guitar chords”, or “The Temptations Papa Was A Rollin Stone chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Papa Was A Rollin Stone chords and for experienced players who want accurate Papa Was A Rollin Stone lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, Bbm.

FAQ — Papa Was A Rollin Stone by The Temptations

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