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


And 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." 

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 that papa had three outside children and another wife, and that ain't right 
Hey, talk about papa doing some stuff 'n preaching 
Talked about saving souls and all the time leaching 
Dealing in debt and stealing in the name of the Lord 

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." 

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 that papa was never much on thinking
Spent most of his life chasing women and drinking 
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth 

And mama looked up with a tear in her eye 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. 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)