Roly Poly
Bob Wells and His Texas Playboys Lyrics
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Roly Poly, yeah
(Come in, Tommy)
Roly Poly, eatin' corn and taters (yeah)
Hungry every minute of the day (ah)
Roly poly, gnawin' on a biscuit
Long as he can chew it, it's okay
And never even bat an eye
He likes everything from soup to hay
Roly Poly, daddy's little fatty
Bet he's gonna be a man someday
(Ah)
Roly Poly, scrambled eggs for breakfast
Bread and jelly 20 times a day (ah)
Roly Poly, eats a hearty dinner
It takes lots of strength to run and play (yes, yes)
Pulls up weeds and does the chores
And he runs both ways top all the stores
He works up an appetite that way
Oh, Roly Poly, daddy's little fatty
Bet he's gonna be a man someday
The song Roly Poly by Bob Wells and His Texas Playboys portrays a jovial and contented character who loves to eat, hence the name Roly Poly. The playful tune features lyrics that describe Roly Poly's insatiable appetite for corn, taters, biscuits, apple pies, soups, and even hay as he can chew it. He is portrayed as a daddy's little fatty who is always hungry and likes to eat every minute of the day, yet he remains unashamed of his size. Despite his love for food, Roly Poly is also an active young boy who pulls weeds and works on chores, thus justifying his hearty appetite. The song ends with a prediction that Roly Poly will grow to become a man.
Line by Line Meaning
Roly Poly, yeah
Introducing the song, titled Roly Poly
Roly Poly, eatin' corn and taters (yeah)
Describing Roly Poly's love for food, specifically corn and potatoes
Hungry every minute of the day (ah)
Highlighting Roly Poly's insatiable appetite
Roly poly, gnawin' on a biscuit
Long as he can chew it, it's okay
Emphasizing that Roly Poly will eat anything he can, no matter how long it takes
He can eat an apple pie
And never even bat an eye
He likes everything from soup to hay
Showing Roly Poly's indiscriminate taste buds and impressive eating abilities
Roly Poly, daddy's little fatty
Bet he's gonna be a man someday
Acknowledging Roly Poly's size and potential to grow into a strong man
Roly Poly, scrambled eggs for breakfast
Bread and jelly 20 times a day (ah)
Listing Roly Poly's favorite foods for breakfast and his propensity to eat frequently
Roly Poly, eats a hearty dinner
It takes lots of strength to run and play (yes, yes)
Explaining that Roly Poly needs the energy from a big meal to be active and play
Pulls up weeds and does the chores
And he runs both ways top all the stores
He works up an appetite that way
Implying that Roly Poly earns his meals by doing physical labor and running errands
Oh, Roly Poly, daddy's little fatty
Bet he's gonna be a man someday
Reiterating Roly Poly's potential to grow into a strong man despite his current weight
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Fred Rose
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimfiedler2704
I used to sing this old classic to my son while feeding him...He is now 60, great old memories...
@magnificentfailure2390
My dad told me this song made him think of me when I was 12.
It still kind of makes me sad, 47 years later.
Give your son a hug.
@gorelord3734
My pops used to sing this to me too when I was a boy!
@pashantzhowell5049
I sing this to my baby when I nurse him. It’s sweet to know it’s been happening this long
@dans49dodge
My father sang it to me when I was growing up.
I'm now 59 years old.
@sherriberri9550
Me and my Pa used to torment our local AM station by calling in and asking for this song so much. This and the Hank Williams version! I miss that man, but this makes me smile and remember. 💚
@chuckbump5386
It don't matter who's in Austin, Bob Wills is still the King"
@ronniebishop2496
It don’t matter who’s anywhere.
@sunofpeter2
Heck yah fellas!!!
@gaggle57
a friend's father had a bunch of 78s he let me dig through, this was in there. A real gem.