CAROLINA ROLLING STONE
(Music: Eleanor Young & Harry D. Squires / Lyrics: Mitchell Parish)


Ernest Hare - 1921
Vernon Dalhart - 1922
Al Bernard - 1922
Elliott Shaw & Charles H. Hart - 1922


Just a while ago at a picture show
There upon the screen appeared an old familiar scene 
Just a cabin door, that was all I saw 
But it made me long for Home Sweet Home 
Like I never did before

Poor little me, I’m just a Carolina rolling stone 
I want to be with the folks I call my own
It seems the fields of snowy white are calling me tonight
And I can see my dear old Mammy waiting by the window light 

Down in my heart there is a pain that never lets me rest
Why did I start from the ones I love the best
I get so homesick now and then, I’ll soon be rolling home again 
Because I’m always alone, I’m just a Carolina rolling stone

Rolling stones are fine, always change their minds
They roll home because they never gather any moss
Teardrops fill their eyes when they realise
There's no other place like Home Sweet Home
That's the reason my heart cries

Poor little me, I’m just a Carolina rolling stone 
I want to be with the folks I call my own
It seems the fields of snowy white are calling me tonight
And I can see my dear old Mammy waiting by the window light 

Down in my heart there is a pain that never lets me rest
Why did I start from the ones I love the best
I get so homesick now and then, I’ll soon be rolling home again 
Because I’m always alone, I’m just a Carolina rolling stone

Marched my way through Georgia, Mississippi too
Got the trav’lin fever, so I blew  
Down to Louisiana, stayed a while and then  
My doggone dogs started itchin’ again

Been to Alabamy, sunny Tennessee 
What’s good enough for Mammy is good enough for me
Bought a one-way ticket, leave tonight at nine
For I must state the bestest state is Caroline

I get so homesick now and then, I’ll soon be rolling home again 
Because I’m always alone, I’m just a Carolina rolling stone



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - February 2016)