[Verse 1: Jermaine Jackson]
It was the third of September
That day I'll always remember, yes, I will
Because that was the day when 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 to tell me the truth
And mama just hung her head and said, son

[Chorus: The Jackson 5]
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
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone

[Verse 2: The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson]
Hey, mama, is it true what they say
That papa never worked a day in his life?
Bad talk's goin' around goin' around town
Sayin' papa had two young kids and another wife, woo
Oh, folks sayin' papa did some storefront preaching
Living in that old soul and all the time drinking
He was dealing in debt and stealing in the name of the Lord
Mama turned her head and said, son
[Chorus: The Jackson 5]
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
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone

[Outro: The Jackson 5]
Thank you, thank you, arigato