"It was the third of September. That day, I'll always remember."

YouTube ^ | 1972 | Temptations

[Perseverando]

The Temptations -- Papa Was A Rolling Stone

[P-Marlowe]

I didn’t realize how good that song was.

Thanks

I gotta learn that Bass Line.

Sometimes simplicity provides the most effective licks.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I haven't heard that song in decades; just listened to it on YT. I'd forgotten how amazing the opening bass licks followed by the gradual layering addition of instruments is.

Wiki has a good description of that lead-in...

A solo plucked bass guitar part, backed by hi-hat cymbals drumming, establishes the musical theme, a simple three-note figure; the bass is gradually joined by other instruments, including a blues guitar, wah-wah guitar, electric piano, handclaps, strings and solo trumpet; all are tied together by the ever-present bass guitar line and repeating hi-hat rhythm.

Later in the song, the instruments reverse and disappear one-by-one leaving the bass line.

It sure is a melancholy song and seemed so emblematic of the ghetto life. The song was written shortly after LBJ's "Great Society" began its destruction of black America and made poor urban blacks 100% dependent on government.

[G Larry]

Issac Hayes seems to have borrowed much of this work for the Theme from Shaft.

[BenLurkin]

Re: # 19 Correct lyric is “I want to hold your gland.”

[Perseverando]

I'm pretty sure it was "1. All he left us was alone"

You see, Papa had a very low credit score because he never worked a day in his life. So he was never able to get any legitimate loans from the bank, but when he died he did have several outstanding debts to local loan sharks. Mama, my brothers and sisters and I were able to work these off by about 2015 thanks to Obamanomics.- LOL!

[rlmorel]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

OMG, I am glad I didn’t know that mis-lyric when I was a teenager...that is likely the only version I would have EVER sang!

[G Larry]

1 is correct.

2 fits the theme of the song.

[wbarmy]

For many years, I really did think the line from “Secret Agent Man” was “Secret Asian Man” and for the life of me couldn’t figure out why they said that.

I got it as a ring tone for my wife when I looked up the lyrics and found what they really said.

[wbarmy]

Re: # 19 Correct lyric is “I want to hold your gland.”

That’s how I sing it to my wife. The kids all get mad at me when I do, but sweetie giggles.

[wbarmy]

6. “See that girl, watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen”. Correct lyric: “See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen” from ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’.

I am pretty sure it was "digging the dancing queen".

[rlmorel]

Heh, I always thought it was “digging the dancing queen” too...makes more sense to me

[rlmorel]

I love these kinds of stories...think of all the people to whom the lyrics made no sense, but they just accepted the wrong thing and sang along, only to find out years later...

“OHHHHHHhhhhhhh!”

[Dr. Sivana]

For years I thought Huey Lewis was singing “The Heart of Rock and Roll’s in Topeka”. It made perfect sense after listing all those other cities!

Also, Neil Diamond’s “Forever in Blue Jeans”, I thought was a hip minister when I heard the lyric, “Just as long as I’ve got you here with me, I’d much rather be Reverend Bluejeans, babe.”

[rlmorel]

AHahahahahahaha...I STILL thought it was “Reverend Blue Jeans”!

That is too funny!

[Alas Babylon!]

Issac Hayes seems to have borrowed much of this work for the Theme from Shaft.

Shut yo mouf!

I'm talkin 'bout Shaft!

We can dig it.

[jocon307]

Great song! Great post!

[scott says]

BEST cover—David Lindley and El Rayo-X
This band was the craziest ever—80-s—90’s—fun, happy “white reggae-” dance music-—

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bitNeEaYqt8&ab_channel=nickolaszet