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Run C&W — Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Album: Row Vs. Wade
Avg rating:
4.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 456









Released: 1994
Length: 4:12
Plays (last 30 days): 0
It 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 nothin' but bad things about him
Mama, I'm depending on you
To tell me the truth
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."

Hey, mama!
Is it true what they say that papa never worked a day in his life?
And, mama, 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 leechin'
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.
Papa was a rolling stone.
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, steal
To pay his bills
Hey, mama,
Folks say papa never was 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...)
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 (yes, he was, my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
My daddy was (papa was a rolling stone), yes, he was
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone."
Comments (94)add comment
Too much yee-haw, not enough menace.
 be4con wrote:
This is fab. It's way too easy to get precious about stuff. If the original didn't exist we'd all be foot tapping along to this and saying how great it is.
 

Well said!
A soulful tune unabashedly 'honkified'.
Joke or not.  This was unnecessary. 
HYSTERICAL!   thanks so much, RP!
Funny to me, because doggish men exist in every culture. They fit right in here.
Very amusing. I appreciate good musicianship, no matter the genre.
 jonahboo wrote:
novelty cornball shit
 
They were a novelty/parody act.  That's the point.
Next time, if you need a cover of this classic, please play the Was (Not Was) version.
I know it's bad but I can't help smiling and tapping my toes.
Wonderful! This is like the original except without the feeling, talent or quality!  I'm sure it bumps at the corn husking festival though. 
oh, please
Big hat cow poke moonshine toe-tapper.
novelty cornball shit
OMG.  I don't think I've ever rated anything a 1 before this song.  
I love bluegrass and like many songs that are not traditionally bluegrass tunes played in a bluegrass style, but THAT was an abomination!
Love the Original (recorded blues)....this not so much.
This is fab. It's way too easy to get precious about stuff. If the original didn't exist we'd all be foot tapping along to this and saying how great it is.
Nope
Oh. My.

Well. That can never be unheard.

hahaha quirky for sure and in their own way, they owned it!
This is blasphemous
I like it.  Since when does music have to be serious?  I seriously couldn't play any instrument or sing as well as any of these guys - they "rockabilly" it well. 
WHAT IN THE HELL?!  HILLBILLIES COVER THE TEMPS. DANG. Well, why not? The subject applies. I still don't like it, but I'm rating it a 6 for effort and making it theirs.  
Can't stop laughing. So many wonderful versions of this song out there, this one is just soooo bad. {#Lol}
The rating distribution shows 10 people voted this a 10 (Godlike).

Papa was indeed a Rolling Stoner.
Very interesting
So ,,,, a bunch of comments from 10 years ago,,,,,, only a few from the last year. Should have left this version in the dust bin 10 years ago
HILARIOUS!
{#Bananajumprope} 
Sucked every bit of soul out of that one. Mission accomplished I guess.  1
I love the rating distribution on this song, it obviously connects with people, one way or the other. ;)
What the....... some songs need to be left alone - even when they're some sort of redneck "tar'n'feather em" fun version, shyte!!!!{#Moon}
 jmsmy wrote:
a fantastic song
 
....and version!

LMAO. Got a bar full of people doing a collective WTF?
Why not mix genres?  I think it's really good!  Sounds like the Hayseed Dixies though . . . . .
a fantastic song

 holborne wrote:
Oh, ew. Why don't you just play the real one, by The Temptations?
 
It's in the playlist. I think it came up just last week, in fact.

Bill loves cross-genre covers. I do too - it gives you a chance to hear a totally different take on the song. 
Oh, ew. Why don't you just play the real one, by The Temptations?
It's kind of like listening to The Gourds play Snoop Doggs Gin and Juice. I'm not really sure what to think.
HILARIOUS! ... except when you think it was intended as a social commentary. Maybe the also do "Mercy, Mercy Me" or "Ohio", too...
Title: Row Vs. Wade Artist: Run C&W Label: Mca This Version Release Date: 07/19/1994 List Price: $9.98 Amazon Price: $44.90 I guess Amazon knows something I don't
Hey Earl, don' choo bogart that jug o' shine. I loves me the hills of Virginny!
fredriley wrote:
Quite. This gets worse the longer it goes on, and is a serious mangling of the original. Motown and Yee-hah do not mix, no siree.
This discussion thread caught me funny. It looks like something that Frasier Crane would say to his brother in "serious" discussion about a wine or latte.
outstanding interpretation - harmonica dude on fire!
DoctorHooey wrote:
Humor is fine in music(Weird Al, Frank Zappa). The problem with this or Senor Coconut is that they kill the songs they do! It's like Draino in my Pepsi...totally unpalatable. Why does humor keep music from being real? I can think of a ton of songwriters and musicians that would have a word with you on that.
So, the guy dies and his family is left with his bank loan?
Definitely at least a 6 or 7 based on the "fun" factor alone. I agree with others who said "bring on the Hayseed Dixie, Bill!" :-)
Okay, anyone can click over to AMG, but for those too lazy or indignant: "As you might guess, Run C&W is a novelty country project, but it has nothing to do with the rap group its name comes from; instead, group members Crashen Burns, Wash Burns, Side Burns, and Rug Burns transform vintage soul classics into bluegrass-style twang. Of course, the Burns Brothers are fictional creations; the group is actually composed of ex-Eagle Bernie Leadon on banjo, ex-Amazing Rhythm Ace Russell Smith on lead vocals, and Nashville songwriting pros Vince Melamed and Jim Photoglo on various instruments. The group debuted for MCA in 1993 with Into the Twangy-First Century, concentrating mostly on humorous rearrangements but also offering the occasional parody, original song, and jokey lyrical aside. Row vs. Wade followed in 1995, after which the group went their separate ways." What a hoot. Fun cover, too.
comedy works...... if you're in the mood for some REAL funny stuff, check out Chief Greenbud and the Smoking Bowls
While a novelty like this is fun to hear every couple of years, it unfortunately bumps much better music from the playlist. Now comes Ozark Mountain Daredevils for the assist...
joanie wrote:
For humor, turn on the comedy channel. I come here for real music.
Quite. This gets worse the longer it goes on, and is a serious mangling of the original. Motown and Yee-hah do not mix, no siree.
It's funny in concept, and actually pretty good in implementation.
joanie wrote:
For humor, turn on the comedy channel. I come here for real music.
Why does humor keep music from being real? I can think of a ton of songwriters and musicians that would have a word with you on that.
Funny adaptation of a song. Folks, there is nothing wrong with a laugh once in awhile. I said once.
For humor, turn on the comedy channel. I come here for real music.
Oh, c'mon, kids, this is hilarious! (I say that as one who loves the original by The Temptations.)
For 5 seconds could not believe what I was hearing. Not the worst thing, but once every 3 months would be enough.
I guess it would be blasphemy for bluegrass purists as well.....me, I find it entertaining and humerous
What a horrible cover...it just hurts the senses!
i'm a motown purist; this is blasphemy.
Very Cool....especially the strings
Not as "cool" maybe but it definitely works. 8+
Like Hayseed Dixie's Back in Black... scratches head.
Great song. Check out the version by Rare Earth if you can find it.
I agree with nelamvr6 and bosonator. A 10! to counteract negativity.
Well, hey... I liked it.
THIS was a fun, ladies!
This is fun! I used to listen to the original Temptations album when I was a kid.
Bosonator wrote:
Wow... so much hatin'. I just think this song is fun, and only deserving of a 5, but since you're all being such Negative Nancys, I'm giving it a 10.
Me too!
Wow... so much hatin'. I just think this song is fun, and only deserving of a 5, but since you're all being such Negative Nancys, I'm giving it a 10.
I like bluegrass but this sucks!
davin wrote:
Italics will never be cool.
Font jokes will never, ever be cool.
buddy wrote:
This is just cool.
Italics will never be cool.
oh come on now. I depend on this station to play cool music, not this honky-tonk crap.
catsoup wrote:
All Right! Next on RP, Hayseed Dixie!
I wish!
You know the Dolly Parton cover of the Collective Soul song (can't recall which one) was surprisingly good, but this is too much. As in I rate it a 2. Now excuse me while I go cleanse my eardrums with some Hendrix.
This would make a great C&W or bluegrass song. Unfortunately, this sounds more like a parody of bluegrass. It's like they just transposed the original to new instruments without thinking about how to make the song their own. That strategy actually works for the 'Gin and Juice' cover, 'cause that one's just over the top anyway. But this one *could* have been done well, and it's sad that they recorded this throwaway instead.
Anytime I hear this song, I can only think of the Chris Rock joke about there being thousands of songs that talk about mothers (momma, momma, momma!!!) and this being the only one that talks about dads... And, not in a positive way...
Whoa! A banjo through a waah pedal. I thought I'd heard everything.
...We got ourselves a convoy! Oh, wait. That was CW McCall. Nevermind.
All Right! Next on RP, Hayseed Dixie!
Originally Posted by rmurray248: C'mon guys - this one might be "Eclectic" but it's neither "Intelligent" nor "Rock" - let's at least stay true to the slogan.
I disagree! I think the intelligent part comes in that hearing this song in this context requires a little frontal lobe work -- if nothing else, just to consider it with an open mind -- and as for "staying true to the slogan," well I respectfully suggest that you're missing the point as to why we're all tuning in here and not to "'s Best Rock!"
Actually, this shows that some songs, if well written with universal lyrics, can fit into any genre and play. There\'s no reason this couldn\'t have been the first recording, and the Motown version an excellent cover.
Untill now I thought Voodoo Banjo was RP\'s most \'funny\' song. Off course the original should be played as well, but what a funny and.....very musical rendition this one is!
One of Mycroft Holmes' hardest tasks in learning human ways (Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress) is humor. The computer technician Manny notes that jokes can be divided into "never funny", "funny always", "funny once". This is a "funny once". Although it is more interesting than the original.
guilty pleasure.
Bluegrass Soul, I love it! :D
C\'mon guys - this one might be \"Eclectic\" but it\'s neither \"Intelligent\" nor \"Rock\" - let\'s at least stay true to the slogan.
Lets leave this one on KPIG 2nd Post: I am warming up to this. it is funny
I just love the original version of this song, I cannot love this one - BOO!