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 I never heard nothin' but bad things about him Mama, I'm dependin' on you to tell me the truth Mama looked up 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 Hey, mama, is it true what they say That Papa never worked a day in his life? And mama There's some bad talk goin' around town Sayin' that papa had three outside children and another wife And that ain't right Hey, heard some talk about papa Doing some storefront preachin' Talkin' 'bout saving souls and all the time leechin' Dealin' in debt and stealin' in the name of the Lord Mama just looked up and Papa was a rolling stone Wherever he laid his hat was his home And when he died All he left us was alone Mama, mama, 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, or steal to pay his bills I wanna know, mama Folks say papa never was much on thinkin' Spent most of his time chasin' women and drinkin' Mama, I'm dependin' on you to tell me the truth With tear-filled eyes, mama hung her head and said Papa was a rolling stone, son Wherever he laid his hat was his home And when he died All he left us was alone, very alone Papa was a rolling stone, my son Wherever he laid his hat was his home