Papa Was a Rolling Stone

(Listen, we don't have anything other than that) (The American dream) (Just think about it, just think about it) 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 had 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 alone Yeah, Papa was a rolling stone Wherever he laid his hat was his home And when he died all he left us was alone, yeah Where the hell are ya, daddy, that's what I'm sayin' Down on my knees in tears and I'm prayin' Wishin' and hopin' my dreams could come true So I could feel like the other kids do A young child but not complete as a whole Before I was born you up and strolled Mama was there but you was up in the wind You never even knew my name, you didn't You never wrote, called, let alone came by As a youth it was hard to wonder why But now I'm older and I don't dwell on self-pity Thinkin' about the life you didn't give me I remember when I used to tell lies When people would ask I'd just fantasize Makin' up stories to make you look good But the real truth was you was never no good People used to say I look just like you But rest assured I don't act like you I'm more than that, my mama raised me better And you can best believe I'm much more together So believe that Hey mama, is it true what they say That Papa never worked a day in his life And mama, bad talk goin' 'round town said Papa had three outside children and another wife And that ain't right Heard some talk about Papa doin' some storefront preachin' Talkin' about savin' souls and all the time leachin' Dealin' in debt and stealin' in the name of the Lord (Ha ha ha ha) oh (mama just hung her head and said: Son) oh Papa was a rolling stone (my son, yeah) Wherever he laid his hat was his home And when he died all he left us was alone (I'm a tellin' you) Papa was a rolling stone, well Wherever he laid his hat was his home And when he died all he left us was alone, yeah It's been said, you gave me something you never had But that's not always true and it's sad To find myself missing you when I did Well, who knows the reasons you did what you did I can't help but to wonder why You lived your life as a big fat lie You act like you had no responsibilities Cause if you did it's a bet that you wouldn't be Stealin', beggin', hustlin' and schemin' You coulda got a job but did you know the meaning of work I'm talkin' 'bout an honest day's pay But you was too lazy to be that way Always tryin' to take the easy ride, that's what they tell me So I don't doubt it for a moment, not for a sec Because you lacked all your self-respect But it's too late, for you, that is Tomorrow I'll be goin' on about my biz And so it's time to put the past behind Erase the anger and clear my mind I wanna forget the little bit I know And make sure that I never sink so low Cause I want my kids to grow up and know That I was always there because I loved them so And that's the least thing that I could do But that's a lot more than I got from you I heard Papa called himself a jack of all trades Tell me is that what sent Papa to his early grave Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his bills Hey mama, folks say Papa wasn't much on thinkin' Spent most of his time chasin' women and drinkin' Mama, I'm dependin' on you to tell me the truth, ooh Papa was a rolling stone (well well well well) Wherever he laid his hat was his home (hey yeah) And when he died all he left us was alone (I'm a-tellin' you) Papa was a rolling stone (yeah now) Wherever he laid his hat was his home And when he died all he left us was alone, lone, lone, lone, lone Papa was a rolling stone Wherever he laid his hat was his home And when he died all he left us was alone