It was the third of September
That day I'll always remember, yes I will
'Cause that was the day that my daddy died
Who 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

(Spoken)
Mama just hung her head and said
(Sung)
Papa was a rollin' stone.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when his died,
All he left us was alone."

(Verse 2)
Hey, Mama, is it true what they say
That Papa never worked a day in his life
Hey, Mama Some bad talk going around sayin'
Papa had there outside children
And another wife
Heard some talk about Papa and his storefront Preachin'
Talkin' about saving souls and all the time
Leaching And dealing in dirt
Stealin' in the name of the Lord
Mama just hung her head and said

(Chorus)

(Verse 3)
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.

(To Chorus)