Ben (Live In Japan / 1973)

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 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 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 a loan
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 a loan

Hey mama
Is it true what they say that Papa never worked a day in his life
And mama, some bad talk goin' round town sayin' that
Papa had three outside children
And another wife, and that ain't right
Heard some talk Papa doing some storefront preachin'
Talking about saving souls and all the time leechin'
Dealing in dirt, and stealing in the name of the Lord
Mama just hung her head and said

Papa was a rolling stone (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was a loan
Hey papa was a rolling stone (dad gumma it)
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was a loan

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 Papa never was much on thinking
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
Mama I'm depending on you to tell me the truth
Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said, son

Papa was a rolling stone (well, well, well, well)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was a loan (a loan, loan, loan, aloan)
Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was a loan

(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 a loan
My daddy was
Papa was a rolling stone (yes he was, yeah)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home