Lyrics & Translation
Learn English through the compelling narrative of The Temptations' 'Papa Was a Rollin' Stone.' The song's question-and-answer format between a child and his mother provides a great opportunity to practice conversational English and learn vocabulary related to family and reputation. The clear, emotive storytelling in the lyrics makes it an engaging way to improve your language skills.
[English]
It was the third of SeptemberThat 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 depending on you, to tell me the truth"
And Momma just hung her head and said...
"Son, Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Well, well"
"Hey Momma, is it true what they say
That Papa never worked a day in his life?
And Momma, some bad talk goin' round town
Sayin' that Papa had three outside children and another wife
And that ain't right
Heard them talking Papa doing some store front preachin'
Talked about saving souls and all the time leeching
Dealing in debt, and stealing in the name of the Lord"
Momma just hung her head and said...
"Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Hey, Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Uh"
"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
Hey Momma, folks say that 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"
And Momma looked up with a tear in her eye and said...
"Son, Papa was a rolling stone (my son)
(Well, well, well, well)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Lone, lone, lone, alone
Papa was a rolling stone (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
I said, Papa was a rolling stone (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone"
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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remember /rɪˈmem.bər/ A2 |
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died /daɪd/ A1 |
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truth /truːθ/ B1 |
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stone /stoʊn/ A1 |
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rolling /ˈroʊ.lɪŋ/ B1 |
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hat /hæt/ A1 |
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home /hoʊm/ A1 |
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alone /əˈloʊn/ A2 |
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worked /wɜːrkt/ A1 |
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town /taʊn/ A1 |
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children /ˈtʃɪl.drən/ A1 |
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wife /waɪf/ A1 |
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saving /ˈseɪ.vɪŋ/ B1 |
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souls /soʊl/ B2 |
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stealing /ˈstiː.lɪŋ/ B1 |
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beg /beɡ/ B1 |
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borrow /ˈbɑː.roʊ/ A2 |
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bills /bɪlz/ A2 |
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chasing /ˈtʃeɪ.sɪŋ/ B1 |
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drinking /ˈdrɪŋ.kɪŋ/ A1 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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