Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone, Pt. 2

Papa was a rollin' stone (my son)

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

And when he died

All he left us

Was alone

Hey Mama

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 and steal

To pay his bills

Bein' on the road and away from our families never got any easier

Papa was a rollin' stone (my son)

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

And when he died

All he left us

Was alone

The reunion tour didn't last long

Neither did Ruffin's composure

Once on the bus, he got to callin' me all kinds of names

Cussing at me like a maniac!

And all of a sudden

He just breaks down

Otis, man

I don't know what's wrong with me

I'm a mess

Inside, man, and I don't know how to clean it up

May God just help me, Otis

David Ruffin was a man with demons

And eventually, those demons took him from us

His body was found in a drug house

Strung out on crack

Left there for hours before somebody dumped him at the hospital

Now say what you want about him

He left a hell of an imprint

God knows he deserved a better exit than that

One with a little sparkle, 'sho 'nuff

Papa was a rollin' stone (my son, well now)

When we lost Eddie

That was definitely a kicker

Lung cancer

That beautiful voice

Destroyed

We had talked, days before he passed

You know, O

All that shit we been through

Yeah?

Water under the bridge

You know what I'm saying?

I love you, brother, you know that?

I didn't know when he said it

But I love you, too, man

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

Now, all of the Temps were my brothers

But Melvin and me have been through the thick of it

The cortisone had made his immune system so weak

You could push him over with a feather

We got to the top, O

Like you said we would

And it was worth every second

With you, brother

I'd do it all over again

And when he died

All he left us was alone

Melvin had literally given this group his all

We helped to integrate the nation

Became the top-selling group at Motown

That's a hell of a calling

Throughout all the bumps in the journey, I can really say

His passing was earned

You know?

But there's one sacrifice that will never measure up

Papa was a rollin' stone

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

All he left us was alone

Otis, I - oh God

Josephine, what is it?

What's wrong?

It was some kind of freak accident

While he was workin' construction

They say Lamont -

He fell from a roof

And -

Dear God, Otis -

Our baby boy

Twenty-three years old

Lamont was only twenty-three years old when he -

Folks sometimes ask me which Temptation

I would bring back to life if I could

None

I would bring back my son