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The Tramp

from Down By The Riverside by Lew Bear

/

about

The Tramp is a public domain song written by Joe Hill, a pro-unionist who was killed the US Govt on trumped up charges to stop his political movement
I recorded it underneath a bridge on the Brampton Valley Way where, as a boy, I noticed tramps were often wont to camp

lyrics

If you all will shut your trap,
I will tell you 'bout a chap,
That was broke and up against it, too, for fair;
He was not the kind to shirk,
He was looking hard for work,
But he heard the same old story everywhere.

(Chorus)
Tramp, tramp, keep on a-tramping,
Nothing here for you;
If I see you round about,
You will wear the ball and chain,
Tramp tramp keep on tramping
It's the best that you can do.

He walked up and down the street,
'Til the shoes fell off his feet.
In a house he spied a lady cooking stew,
And he said, "How do you do,
May I chop some wood for you?"
What the lady told him made him feel so blue.

(Repeat chorus)

'Cross the street a sign he read,
"Work for Jesus" so it said,
And he said, "Here is my chance, I'll surely try,"
So he knelt upon the floor,
Till his knees got rather sore,
But at eating-time he heard the preacher cry–

(Repeat chorus)

Cross the street he spied a cop,
And the copper made him stop,
And he said, "When did you blow into town?
And he took him to the judge,"
But the judge he said, "Oh fudge,
Bums with no money needn't come around."

(Repeat chorus)

Finally came that happy day
When his life did pass away,
He was sure he'd go to heaven when he died,
When he reached the pearly gate,
Santa Peter, mean old skate,
Slammed the door right in his face and loudly cried:

(Repeat chorus)

In despair he went to Hell,
With the Devil for to dwell,
For the reason he'd no other place to go.
And he said, "I'm full of sin,
So for Christ's sake, let me in!"
But the Devil said, "Oh, beat it! You're a 'bo!'
(Repeat chorus)

credits

from Down By The Riverside, released June 16, 2013
Vocals and Guitar - Lew Bear

Lyrics - Joe Hill (with minor adjustment from Lew Bear)
Arrangement - Lew Bear

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