Like A Rolling Stone
Dino Desi and Billy Lyrics
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'Cause that was the day that my daddy died.
I never got a chance to see him; never heard nothin' but bad things about him.
Mama I'm depending on you to tell me the truth.
Mama just looked at him and said, "Son,
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."
Hey, Mama, is it true what the say, that Papa never worked a day in his life?
And Mama, they talk all around town say that
Papa had three outside children and another wife
And that ain't right.
Heard them talkin' about Papa doing some storefront preachin'
Talkin' about saving your souls and all the time weak, dealin' in death
And stealin' in the name of the Lord
Mama just hung her head and said,
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."
Hey, Mama, I heard Papa call 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.
Hey, Mama, folks say Papa was never much on thinkin';
Spend most of his time chasin' women and drinkin'!
Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth.
Mama just hung her head and said, "Son,
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his head was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone."
The song "Papa was a Rollin' Stone" by Dino Desi and Billy tells the story of a son who is trying to understand the truth about his father who just passed away. His mother tells him that his father was a "rolling stone" who never settled down in one place for long and left them all alone when he died. The son asks questions about his father's life and actions, such as whether he ever worked, had other wives and children or spent his time only chasing after women and drinking. Through it all, the mother confirms that indeed, his father was a man who never kept a steady job, lived a life of sin and never stayed true to his family.
The song is an exploration of family dynamics, broken homes, and the effects of a father's absence on a child's life. It portrays the pain of growing up without a father, and trying to understand who he was and why he did the things he did. The lyrics aim to convey the message that children need stability and guidance from their parents, especially their fathers.
Line by Line Meaning
It was the third of September; that day I'll always remember, 'Cause that was the day that my daddy died.
The day my father died will stay in my memory forever; it was September 3rd.
I never got a chance to see him; never heard nothin' but bad things about him. Mama I'm depending on you to tell me the truth.
I never had the opportunity to meet him and all I've heard are negative things; I trust you to tell me the truth, Mom.
Mama just looked at him and said, 'Son, Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his head was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone.'
Mom told me that my father was a wanderer and never had a permanent home; when he passed, he left us alone.
Hey, Mama, is it true what the say, that Papa never worked a day in his life? And Mama, they talk all around town say that Papa had three outside children and another wife. And that ain't right.
Mom, is it true that people gossip about dad not ever having a job? They've also been saying he had other children and wives outside of our family, which is unfair to us.
Heard them talkin' about Papa doing some storefront preachin'. Talkin' about saving your souls and all the time weak, dealin' in death. And stealin' in the name of the Lord. Mama just hung her head and said,
I overheard people saying that dad did some preaching in storefronts, but he was only taking advantage of vulnerable people, even stealing in the name of religion. Mom simply looked sad and didn't say anything.
Hey, Mama, I heard Papa call 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. Hey, Mama, folks say Papa was never much on thinkin'; Spend most of his time chasin' women and drinkin'! Mama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truth.
Mom, I heard dad used to call himself a handyman but did that cause his early death? People say he would do anything to get money like begging or stealing. They also mentioned he wasn't intelligent and spent his time with women and alcohol. Mom, I need to know the truth.
Mama just hung her head and said, 'Son, Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his head was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone.'
Mom simply repeated what she previously told me; that dad never settled down and left us alone when he passed away.
Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his head was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone.
The chorus repeats the theme of the song, that my father was a wanderer and we were left alone after his death.
Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his head was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone.
The second chorus reiterates that my dad was always moving around, which resulted in us being alone after he passed.
Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his head was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone.
The third chorus emphasizes that my father's constant wandering meant that we were left alone after he died.
Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his head was his home. And when he died, all he left us was alone.
The final chorus concludes the song with the same message; my father's lifestyle of never settling down resulted in our loneliness after he passed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind