[Intro]
Ladies and gentlemen
John Mellencamp with special guest Al Kooper

[Verse 1]
Once upon a time, dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say, "Doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
'Bout having to be scrounging for your next meal (Here we go)

[Chorus]
How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
A com-complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

[Verse 2]
You've gone to the finest schools alright, little Miss Lonely
But you only got juiced in it
See, no one ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you know you've gotta get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
This cat's not sellin' no alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say, "Do you want to make a deal?" (Here we go)
[Chorus]
How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
A com-complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

[Verse 3]
Well, you never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all came down and did their tricks for you
You never understood that it, it ain't no good
Oh, you shouldn't let other people get their kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal?

[Chorus]
How does it feel?
Oh, how does it feel
To be on your own
No direction home
A com-complete unknown
Like a rolling stone? (Here we go)
[Verse 4]
Princess on the steeple, all the pretty people
They're thinkin', drinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
You better take that diamond ring, you better pawn it, babe
You used to be so amused
With Napoleon in rags and all the clever language that he used
Go ahead now, he calls you, man, you can't refuse
Now that you realize you got nothin' to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal

[Chorus]
Well, how does it feel?
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
And a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

[Outro]
Al Kooper on the organ, ladies and gentlemen