 All Directions (1972) [ larger cover art ] |
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Musicbrainz DBIt 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 nothing but bad things about him.
Mama, I'm depending on you, tell me the truth.
And Mama just hung her head and said,
"Son, Papa was a rolling stone.
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 Mama, is it true what they say,
That Papa never worked a day in his life?
And Mama, bad talk going around town
Saying that Papa had three outside children and another wife.
And that ain't right.
HEARD SOME talk about Papa doing some store front preaching.
TalkIN about saving souls and all the time leeching.
Dealing in debt and stealing in the name of the Lord.
Mama 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.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
(And when he died) All he left us was ALONE."
Uh!
Hey Mama, I heard Papa call himself a jack of all trade.
Tell me is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
Folk say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his bill.
Hey Mama, folk say that Papa was never much on thinking.
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking.
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth. Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said,
"Son, Papa was a rolling stone. (Well, well, well, well)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
(And when he died) All he left us was ALONE."
"Papa was a rolling stone.
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. Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
(And when he died) All he left us was ALONE."
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 nothing but bad things about him.
Mama, I'm depending on you, tell me the truth.
And Mama just hung her head and said,
"Son, Papa was a rolling stone.
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 Mama, is it true what they say,
That Papa never worked a day in his life?
And Mama, bad talk going around town
Saying that Papa had three outside children and another wife.
And that ain't right.
HEARD SOME talk about Papa doing some store front preaching.
TalkIN about saving souls and all the time leeching.
Dealing in debt and stealing in the name of the Lord.
Mama 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.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
(And when he died) All he left us was ALONE."
Uh!
Hey Mama, I heard Papa call himself a jack of all trade.
Tell me is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
Folk say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his bill.
Hey Mama, folk say that Papa was never much on thinking.
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking.
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth. Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said,
"Son, Papa was a rolling stone. (Well, well, well, well)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
(And when he died) All he left us was ALONE."
"Papa was a rolling stone.
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. Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
(And when he died) All he left us was ALONE."
| Jomeo (New England) | Posted: May 20, 2013 - 10:15 Thank you. That was incredible and It made my day. |
| Orodrigues (Resende (RJ), Brazil) | Posted: May 20, 2013 - 10:14 Nothing less than a huge Godlike! |
| clwguy | Posted: May 20, 2013 - 10:13 no seriously??? this is why we need a PSD-like button for listeners ....perhaps a GSED button? kurt_from_kanada wrote: PSD doesn't seem to be working. |
| ziakut (Slightly North of Obvlivion) | Posted: May 20, 2013 - 10:09 The beginning of this always make me think of the stereotypical 70s porn music...with the crybaby wah chords strumming away. Ok...now I'm dating myself here. Oops. |
| unclehud (now 50 feet above the planet in Boston) | Posted: Mar 18, 2013 - 15:29 coy wrote: chuka ah chuka ah chuka ah Exactly. Why don't these young whippersnappers know how to play guitar like that? |
| On_The_Beach (The Blue Planet) | Posted: Mar 02, 2013 - 15:36 MojoJojo wrote: In this case there is no need for it. You got that right, Jojo! |
| MojoJojo (Indianapolis, IN USA) | Posted: Feb 15, 2013 - 06:11 kurt_from_kanada wrote: PSD doesn't seem to be working. In this case there is no need for it. |
| kurt_from_kanada (carleton place ontario) | Posted: Jan 30, 2013 - 07:34 PSD doesn't seem to be working. |
| coy (san antonio) | Posted: Dec 14, 2012 - 13:36 chuka ah chuka ah chuka ah |
| shellbella (so california) | Posted: Nov 28, 2012 - 14:26 My fav Temptations song!! |
| tulfan (Still in SE MI) | Posted: Nov 13, 2012 - 04:40 A perfect song to test the limits of a once promising vocal career...used to be able to hit all of those notes (as if...) |
| Stingray | Posted: Sep 26, 2012 - 18:28 12! But I LOVE the version of "WAS NOT WAS" nearly as much! By the way - why is this GORGEOUS band never played here? |
| max_p | Posted: Sep 11, 2012 - 06:44 plaice3 wrote: hmmm ... now that I think about it, my papa was a rolling stone, too.  still all too common |
| Stes (Krakow - Poland) | Posted: Sep 11, 2012 - 06:43 It was the eleventh of September That day I'll always remember |
| PAX_DIEGO | Posted: Sep 11, 2012 - 06:40 plaice3 wrote: hmmm ... now that I think about it, my papa was a rolling stone, too. Same boat here. You're not alone. |
| plaice3 | Posted: Sep 11, 2012 - 06:39 blackjackshellac wrote: When disco (before it was disco) was still cool, and black hair was big. BIG black hair was big, too  |
| Ahnyer_Keester (Chicago Il) | Posted: Sep 11, 2012 - 06:39 A healthy reminder that the 70s weren't all that bad, big bells not withstanding. Excellent song. |
| Hannio (Austin, TX) | Posted: Sep 11, 2012 - 06:39 Absolutely sublime intro. |
| blackjackshellac (Montreal) | Posted: Aug 26, 2012 - 06:17 When disco (before it was disco) was still cool, and black hair was big. |
| ziakut (Right Here) | Posted: Jul 25, 2012 - 20:28 johnjconn wrote: It is un-American , to not like this song. No. It would be un-American to not be able to express your dislike. I share your sentiment...perhaps we should defect. |
| plaice3 | Posted: Jul 10, 2012 - 08:38 hmmm ... now that I think about it, my papa was a rolling stone, too. |
| johnjconn (chicago land) | Posted: Jun 24, 2012 - 09:46 It is un-American , to not like this song. |
| hayduke2 (Southampton, NY) | Posted: Jun 08, 2012 - 15:41 I was compelled to follow the Temps choreography whenever I was lucky enough to see them on tv, Don Cornelius' train or wherever way back then, or was that something powerful! My suburban white ass trying to follow the steps, and seeing the integrity and charm of these fantastic musicians, super excellent. |
| reindeer (Pandora) | Posted: May 23, 2012 - 13:58 ronniegirl wrote: Skipped my senior prom to see them. WOW. You made the right choice. |
| dharmabumrap (Tragic City (Birmingham, AL)) | Posted: May 23, 2012 - 13:55 WayUpNorth wrote: Ok, so I know I'm an old fart, but I'm going to say it anyway ... "they just don't make 'em like this anymore." But I'd be interested to hear Diddy, Jay-Z and Usher cover this ... For a whole different vibe, check out David Lindley and El Rayo-X's cover on Very Greasy. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Apr 21, 2012 - 20:21 Roguewarer wrote: So.... he was a Rolling Stone? Or a rolling stone...? Did he leave them a loan? or alone? These are good reasons for spelling every word while you sing. Raffi - is that you? |
| Roguewarer (Southfield, MI) | Posted: Mar 05, 2012 - 10:54 So.... he was a Rolling Stone? Or a rolling stone...? Did he leave them a loan? or alone? These are good reasons for spelling every word while you sing. |
| Tippster (Washington, DC) | Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 18:51 Incredibly this song won the first Grammy for Motown Records. |
| GreggH | Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 18:35 Great music. |
| ick (...out of the primordial ooze) | Posted: Jan 17, 2012 - 15:42 sirdroseph wrote: Porn movie whacka on the guitar!  Brown chicken brown cow brown chicken brown cow brown chicken brown cow... |
| ajlept (Athens, GA) | Posted: Dec 16, 2011 - 22:56 sirdroseph wrote: Porn movie whacka on the guitar! Who ever he is, he's good! |
| Rotterdam | Posted: Dec 16, 2011 - 22:54 gazinroze wrote: If someone had asked me for all-time favs from my youth, I would never have thought of this song, but hearing it now, it has to be on that list. So evocative of the 70s. Great stuff. I'm no Temptations fan, but maybe I should take a look at a compilation disc or two  Ditto. I think this is ultra-cool, some of the best music of its genre, well-produced, great lyrics, great voices, and just plain good. |
| gazinroze (England) | Posted: Nov 15, 2011 - 05:48 If someone had asked me for all-time favs from my youth, I would never have thought of this song, but hearing it now, it has to be on that list. So evocative of the 70s. Great stuff. I'm no Temptations fan, but maybe I should take a look at a compilation disc or two |
| ferwoman | Posted: Oct 14, 2011 - 16:50 Aaaaargh! I missed this one today. I'm gonna have to dig it out and play it now .... |
| Cynaera (Kenneth's Frequency) | Posted: Aug 28, 2011 - 12:29 Businessgypsy wrote:  Long interview with author here. This guy was lower than whale poop, reminds me of Clinton's father, if the word father can even be applied. The writer is an apologist for this abusive bigamist, but has done a very thorough job. Did Jr. a huge favor by being totally absent. Wow. Some very interesting observations and facts about how Obama-the-Kid grew up. I find it astonishing that Barack Obama was able to rise above his childhood mis-upbringing and become a pretty decent guy. Granted, I don't agree with some of his policies, but then, I'm into "instant-gratification," and I feel that a few things will take more time to work themselves out. It's like a broken bone that hasn't healed properly. No fun to have that bone re-broken, and it hurts a lot and might seem counter-productive, but in the long-run, it's better for the whole body. Feh. That was lame....  |
| nalle (Malmo, Sweden) | Posted: Aug 28, 2011 - 12:14 I want to rate it more than 10, love it. The intro a 10 also. |
| unclehud (300 feet above the planet) | Posted: Aug 12, 2011 - 18:28 Check out the synchronized dancing on the album cover ... that's REAL stage presence. It was a show. |
| (former member) | Posted: Aug 12, 2011 - 18:25 Dave_Mack wrote: I hate that kind of wordplay. Yes, I admit it. I'm homophonic. Homophonophobic. NTTAWWT |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: Jul 12, 2011 - 09:41 Long interview with author here. This guy was lower than whale poop, reminds me of Clinton's father, if the word father can even be applied. The writer is an apologist for this abusive bigamist, but has done a very thorough job. Did Jr. a huge favor by being totally absent. |
| Dave_Mack (Ball of Confusion) | Posted: Jul 12, 2011 - 09:41 MilSF1 wrote: Best use of a homophone in music in my opinion. I don't know the actually lyric but "alone" and "a loan" both work. Heck, they work together for that matter - He left them in debt without anyone to help. I hate that kind of wordplay. Yes, I admit it. I'm homophonic. |
| WayUpNorth | Posted: Jul 12, 2011 - 09:41 Ok, so I know I'm an old fart, but I'm going to say it anyway ... "they just don't make 'em like this anymore." But I'd be interested to hear Diddy, Jay-Z and Usher cover this ... |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Jun 10, 2011 - 17:48 All he left us was alone... This is such a dark, bleak, fatal song, but it tells it like it is, even now... Ahead of its time. And I still love it, although I can't listen to it if I'm going through a depression. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Jun 10, 2011 - 17:47 MilSF1 wrote: Best use of a homophone in music in my opinion. I don't know the actually lyric but "alone" and "a loan" both work. Heck, they work together for that matter - He left them in debt without anyone to help. I'm pretty sure that line was deliberate, ambiguous word-play. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: May 10, 2011 - 13:33  Temptations Revue 6 by ~kmdailey Karin ©2007-2010 ~kmdailey Free concert at Boston City Hall Plaza - Summer 2006 ————————————————————————————————————————- The Temptations - (HQ) Papa was a rollin'stone, Live (1972) |
| jools (Brighton UK) | Posted: May 10, 2011 - 03:05 PURE GOLD!!!! |
| The_Enemy (...is within) | Posted: Apr 24, 2011 - 11:38 Love the long intro |
| MilSF1 (Arkadelphia, AR) | Posted: Apr 08, 2011 - 13:11 Sleepytyme wrote: All he left us was a loan? Best use of a homophone in music in my opinion. I don't know the actually lyric but "alone" and "a loan" both work. Heck, they work together for that matter - He left them in debt without anyone to help. |
| Sleepytyme (Left Coast, California) | Posted: Apr 08, 2011 - 12:13 All he left us was a loan? |
| iam_overlord (Brighton, MA) | Posted: Apr 08, 2011 - 12:10 Godlike. As in immortal. |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: Apr 08, 2011 - 12:10 Porn movie whacka on the guitar! |
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