The Fontane Sisters (actually sisters-Marge, Bea and Geri Rosse) came from … Read Full Bio ↴The Fontane Sisters (actually sisters-Marge, Bea and Geri Rosse) came from New Milford, New Jersey.
By the late 40s the girls were singing with Perry Como on his radio show, followed him to TV and sang on many of his records from 1949 through 1953, many of which were monster hits. The Fontane's were also signed to an artist's contract with RCA which was Perry's label.
At least 4 of their recordings landed on the Billboard Top 30 charts.

In 1954 the Fontanes left RCA and signed with Randy Wood's Dot Records. Their first single for the label was a remake of an early 20th century hit HAPPY DAYS AND LONELY NIGHTS. The record charted at number 18 in Billboard and their hit string began. One of their follow up releases, HEARTS OF STONE, not only established them as recording stars, but also topped the Billboard charts. By the end of their chart career in 1959, the Fontanes had placed 24 singles on the Billboard Pop charts. A number of others were also listed on the Cashbox charts at a time when they ran to 40 or 50 places while Billboard charts had between 20 and 30 positions.

Rollin
The Fontane Sisters Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come home rollin' stone,
Home where you belong ( belong, Oh! come . . . )
Oh! come home rollin' stone,
You've been away too long!

I wandered into Kansas a-singin' a song
Singin' doodle-doo-day, all day!
And then I got a feelin' that somethin' was wrong

When a voice in my heart seemed to say . . .

Come home rollin' stone,
Home where you belong, belong,
Oh! come home rollin' stone,
You've been away too long!

I left my love a-weepin' in old Arkansas
Left her for the freight cars that passed
But last night in a tavern, I swear that I saw
Her face in a shimmering glass . . .

( Come home rollin' stone,
Home where you belong, belong,
Oh! come home rollin' stone,
You've been away too long . . . )

Now, when I hear that lonesome old train comin' near
And the moon is over the track
Oh somewhere from the shadows I know that I'll hear
Her voice in the clickity clack!

Oh come home rollin' stone,
Home where you belong, belong,
Oh! come home rollin' stone,
You've been away too long . . . ( Come home . . . )

Words and Music by Irving Gordon

Overall Meaning

The Fontane Sisters' "Rollin" is a song that expresses a sense of homesickness and longing for love. In the song, the singer addresses a lover who has been away for too long and asks them to come home where they belong. The song tells the story of a wandering man who left his lover and travels around singing, but feels a sense of emptiness without his lover. He reminisces on his past and regrets his decision, which is shown in the lines "I left my love a-weepin' in old Arkansas, left her for the freight cars that passed". The singer also talks about feeling like something was wrong and hearing a voice in his heart that was calling him back home.

The lyrics are simple, but they're effective in conveying the deep sense of longing and regret that the singer is feeling. The use of repetition in the chorus, "Come home rollin' stone, home where you belong", adds weight to the plea to come back home. The song also has a touch of nostalgia, which is reflected in the line "Now, when I hear that lonesome old train comin' near, and the moon is over the track", which could be interpreted as a reference to an old-timey Hollywood romanticism.

Interestingly, the songwriter, Irving Gordon, created the music first before writing the lyrics. He couldn't think of any lyrics to match, so he asked his wife to listen to the tune and come up with some words. She suggested "come home, rolling stone", and Gordon wrote the rest of the lyrics. The song was first recorded by Kay Kyser and his Orchestra in 1952, and the Fontane Sisters' version came out a year later in 1953. The Fontane Sisters' recording quickly became more popular, becoming a top 20 hit on the Billboard charts.

The song has been covered by a wide range of artists, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Dolly Parton. It's often categorized as a classic rock-and-roll song, even though it's more of a ballad. The song has appeared in several movies, including "Blow" and "The Holiday". In 1993, the soundtrack to the movie "Sleepless in Seattle" included a version of the song by B.B. King, which helped introduce the song to a new generation.

Line by Line Meaning

Come home rollin' stone,
Addressing the person who has been constantly moving around and urging them to come back home.

Home where you belong ( belong, Oh! come . . . )
Highlighting the fact that home is where they truly belong, and they are desired to return.

Oh! come home rollin' stone,
Reiterating the desire for the person to come back home.

You've been away too long!
Expressing the sentiment that the person has been gone for an extended period, and it's time for them to return.

I wandered into Kansas a-singin' a song
Narrating the story of the singer traveling to Kansas, singing a tune.

Singin' doodle-doo-day, all day!
Mentioning the lyrics of the song they were singing.

And then I got a feelin' that somethin' was wrong
Stating that the singer began to sense that something was amiss.

When a voice in my heart seemed to say . . .
Describing a feeling of something tugging at the singer's heartstrings, urging them to reconsider their decisions.

I left my love a-weepin' in old Arkansas
Revealing that the singer had to leave their loved one behind in Arkansas, who was sad about the separation.

Left her for the freight cars that passed
Implied that the singer chose to pursue a life of constant travel and adventure, rather than staying in one place.

But last night in a tavern, I swear that I saw
Sharing a personal anecdote concerning seeing their loved one's face.

Her face in a shimmering glass . . .
Describing the moment when the singer saw their lover's face in a reflective surface in a tavern.

Now, when I hear that lonesome old train comin' near
Reflecting on the feeling of nostalgia the singer experiences when they hear a distant train whistle.

And the moon is over the track
Describing the poetic composition of the moment where the singer hears a train whistle while the moon is out.

Oh somewhere from the shadows I know that I'll hear
Expressing the certainty that they will hear their loved one's voice again someday.

Her voice in the clickity clack!
Alluding to the sound of train wheels on tracks as they click and clack along the way.

Oh come home rollin' stone,
Repeating the chorus, urging the person to return home.

Home where you belong, belong,
Re-emphasizing that the person belongs at home.

Oh! come home rollin' stone,
Reiterating the desire for the person to come back home once again.

You've been away too long . . . ( Come home . . . )
Re-emphasizing that the person has been away for too long and needs to come back home. Also, repeating the chorus one last time.

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRVING GORDON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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