Tramp

About Tramp

"Tramp" is a soul blues song written by West Coast blues artists Lowell Fulson and Jimmy McCracklin. First recorded by Fulson in 1967, it is described as "a loping funk-injected workout [which restored] the guitarist to R&B stardom", by AllMusic writer Bill Dahl. In the song's narrative, the singer ignores the criticism of his unsophisticated appearance: Despite label owner Jules Bihari's initial dislike, the song was released as a single by Kent Records in 1967. It became a hit, peaking at number five in the Billboard R&B chart. The song was also Fulson's most popular single in the broader, pop-oriented Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it reached number 52. Fulson recalled Bihari's initial reaction: "Oh, he hated 'Tramp', Jules [Bihari] did." However, when he previewed the song for two influential disc jockeys, the response was "Hush! Man, get me my copy, quick. You sitting on a gold mine, talking about you want to hear some blues. You better get that record out." Fulson elaborated: more »

Year:

1996

2 Views

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Tramp! 
 What you call me? 
 Tramp. 
 You didn't! 
 You don't wear continental clothes, or Stetson hats. 
 Well I tell you one dog-gone thing. It makes me feel good to know one thing. I know I'm a lover. 
 Matter of opinion. 
 That's all right, Mama was. Papa too. And I'm the only child. Lovin' is all I know to do. 
 You know what, Otis? 
 What? 
 You're country. 
 That's all right. 
 You straight from the Georgia woods. 
 That's good. 
 You know what? You wear overalls, and big old brogan shoes, and you need a haircut, Tramp. 
 Haircut? Woman, you foolin'...ooh...I'm a lover. Mama was. Grandmama, Papa too. Boogaloo. All that stuff. And I'm the only son-of-a-gun this side of the Sun. Tramp! 
 You know what, Otis? I don't care what you say, you're still a tramp. 
 What? 
 That's right. You haven't even got a fat bankroll in your pocket. You probably haven't even got twenty-five cents. 
 I got six Cadillacs, five Lincolns, four Fords, six Mercuries, three T-Birds, Mustang, ooooooohhh...I'm a lover. Mama was. Papa too. I tell you one thing. 
 Well tell me. 
 I'm the only son-of-a-gun this side of the Sun. 
 You're a tramp, Otis. 
 No I'm not. 
 I don't care what you say, you're still a tramp. 
 What's wrong with that? 
 Look here. You ain't got no money. 
 I got everything. 
 You can't buy me all those minks and sables and all that stuff I want. 
 I can buy you minks, rats, frogs, squirrels, rabbits, ...anything you want, Woman. 
 Look, you can go out in the Georgia woods and find them, Baby. 
 Oh, you foolin'. 
 You're still a tramp. 
 That's all right. 
 You a tramp, Otis. You just a tramp. 
 That's all right. 
 You wear overalls. You need a haircut, Baby. Cut off some of that hair off your head. You think you a lover, huh? 

Here's the original text (Lowell Fulson) :

1.
Tramp -
You can call me that.
I Don't wear that kind of clothes: Stuts and hats.
But I'm a lover
Mana was - Papa too.
I'm not a child: Love is all I gonna do.

2.
Call me country
That a new word
I'll answer when You call me, Baby, I mean, if that makes You feel good...
But I'm just a lover
Mama was - Papa too.
But I'm not a child: Love is all I gonna do.

3.
Now: Whatever You call me,
I even go for that!
'Cause I keep a fat pack crawling in my pocket Baby!
You know, I don't own three Cadillacs -
'Cause I'm just a lover.
Mama was - Papa too.
I'm not a child: Love is all I gonna do.

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Otis Redding

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer and songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. Considered one of the major figures in soul music and rhythm and blues, and one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music, his singing style influenced other soul artists of the 1960s, and he helped to craft the short-living and powerful style of R&B that formed the basis of the Stax Sound. After appearing at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, he wrote and recorded "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Steve Cropper, which became the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts after his death in a plane crash. The Dock of the Bay reached number one on the UK A… more »

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