Comments on: Like a Rolling Stone

By: Heather Meadows

Heather Meadows — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:16:26 +0000

I don’t know anyone who has ever actually used the phrase in conversation. My understanding was always based on the hippie connotation, but I don’t know why.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:28:04 +0000

I don’t think I’m that old, but growing up in Maryland I always heard it as a lament or complaint. As one example, I recall it popping up in conversations about a neighbor’s son who had decided to make a career of the military. He’d been stationed at 3 bases in his first 6 years, and was unmarried. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard news of him, so I don’t know whether he ever stopped rolling long enough to gather some moss. Or whether he ever wanted to.

By: Overoften

Overoften — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 23:25:43 +0000

I am, yes. I’ve most often encountered it as a complaint about someone who “should be married and settled down by now”.

By: harvey

harvey — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:59:10 +0000

Are you from the UK Overoften? I wonder if that works in the US as well. Anyone have any older-folk they could check with?

By: Overoften

Overoften — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:18:02 +0000

Hi Harv,
I’m pretty sure the phrase has both those meanings in English too. My parents, for example, would only see the ‘moss’ as desirable, and would probably sigh at the ‘modern’ interpretation.