Originally written by Joe Hill, who got shot over 100 years by the US govt on trumped up charges, due to him becoming very popular as a union man
I heard the song about Joe Hill (The Dubliners version, though there are many) and started investigating him when I found out he'd written a lot of songs himself. I found The Tramp, loved the lyrics, deliberately didn't search for the original music or melody, made my own and, well, here we are
lyrics
If y’all will shut your trap, I’ll tell you bout a chap
Who was broke and up against it too for fair
He was not the kind to shirk and he was looking hard for work
But he met the same ole story everywhere
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
Walked up and down the street, till the shoes fell off his feet
In a house he spied a lady cooking stew
He said how do you do, may I chop some wood for you?
What the lady told him made him feel so blue
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
Across the street as 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 preacher cry
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
Cross the street he spied a cop and the copper made him stop
And he said when did you blow into town
So he took him to the judge, but the judge he said oh fudge
Bums with no money needn’t come around
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
Finally came that happy day, when his life passed away
He was sure he’d go to heaven when he died
When he reached the pearly gates, santa peter, mean old skate
Slammed the door right in his face, loudly cried
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
In despair he went to hell, with the devil for to dwell
For the reason he’d no other place to go
He said I’m full of sin, so for christs sake let me in
But the devil said o beat it you’re a bo
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
credits
from Ripples,
released June 8, 2014
Lew Bear - guitar, vocals, stompbox, arrangement
John Duffy - bouzouki
Recorded by the only sound tech Djay Buddha, written by Stoo Nicol and Sketchy. Percussion by me and Paddy, violin by Yuuka and Bass from the gone but not forgotten Broon - what else could you want? Lew Bear
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