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 nothing 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 a loan
Papa was a rolling stone, my son
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died)
All he left us was a loan," well, well

Hey Mama, is it true what they say
That Papa never worked a day in his life?
And Mama, some bad talk going around town
Saying that Papa had three outside children
And another wife and that ain't right
I heard some talk about Papa doing some store front preaching
Talking about saving souls and all the time leeching
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 a loan
Hey, Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died)
All he left us was a loan"

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, well, well, yeah)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died)
All he left us was a loan, loan, loan, loan, loan
Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died)
All he left us was a loan"
I said

"Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died)
All he left us was a loan"
My daddy was
Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home

Writer : WHITFIELD, NORMAN J./STRONG, BARRETT
Copyright : Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing