Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

by The Temptations
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Lyrics

It was the third of Sep tem ber.

er got a chance to see That day I’ll al ways re mem ber, heard noth yes, I will, things a bout ’cause that was the day ing on you that my dad dy died.

I nev er got a chance to see him.

day I’ll al ways re Nev er heard noth in’ but bad things a bout him.

Ma ma, I’m de ing on you to tell me the truth.

I

Pa pa was a roll in’ stone.”

Wher ev er he laid his hat was his home.

And when he died, all he left us was a lone.

Pa pa was a roll in’ stone.”

Wher ev er he laid his hat was his home.

And when he died, all he left us was a lone.

Hey Ma ma, is it true what they say, that Pa pa nev er worked a day in his life?

’bout sav in’ souls and all the And Ma ma,

bad talk goin’ a round town say that Pa pa had three out side chil dren and an oth er wife.

And that ain’t right.

Heard some talk a bout Pa pa do in’ some store front preach in’.

Tell Talk in’ that what sent Pa pa to an time preach ing,

heal ing and pa then town say that steal ing in the name of the Lord.

pay his bills.

er wife.

Hey, Ma ain’t ma,

Hey, Ma ma, folks say Pa pa nev er was much on think in’.

Spent most of his time chas in’ wom en and drink in’.

Ma ma, I’m de pend ing on you

to tell me the truth.

“Pa pa was a roll in’ stone.”

Wher ev er he laid his hat was his home.

And when he died, all he left us was a lone.

Papa Was A Rollin' Stone — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

6 people have learned this song

Watch "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. Key of A, 120 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Papa Was A Rollin' Stone”

Can I learn "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" with falling notes like Synthesia?
Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" with hands-separate practice in A at 120 BPM.
What key is "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations played in?
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone is arranged in the key of A on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"?
"Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" was originally performed by The Temptations. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by The Temptations can I play here?
Try "I'M LOSING YOU", "BALL OF CONFUSION", "AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can I practice left and right hand separately for "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"?
Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" one hand at a time before combining them.
What is falling notes style for "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"?
Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" is in the key of A at 120 BPM.