In the grand tradition of dialogue-performance, which goes back long before the Greek Chorus, we have here the clever sparring of a man and woman. Think of songs like Baby, It’s Cold Outside. One has to believe that the song Tramp and its video are tongue-in-cheek. Tramp portrays that sort of argument it’s impossible to win.
- “you talk to much”
- “you’re too defensive”
- “you’re drunk”
The harder you defend yourself, the stronger the proof you bring to light, the more you feel the ground secretly slipping away. Even when you win the argument, you somehow lose the war. Doubt lingers in the shadows.
The good news of the Gospel is that we can lay down our weapons of justification.Part of the good news is that there is One who took on the weight of every accusation, even those that strike most deeply at the core of our being:
- You’re worthless, forgotten, unknown, unloved
- you’re a mistake, a disappointment; an embarrassment
Another part of the good news is that the one who has any right to lay such accusations at our feet is the One to took on our shame.
Indeed, we were once tramps, but now have found an eternal dwelling place in the heart of God and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Tramp
Tramp
What you call me?
Tramp
Oh you didn’t
You don’t wear continental clothes or Stetson hats
Well I tell you one doggone thing
It makes me feel good to know one thing…
I know I’m a lover
Matter of opinion, baby
That’s all right, Mama was
So
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
They’ll make you one
Oh, that’s alright
And I’m the only son of a gun, yeah, this side of the sun
Tramp
That’s right, that’s what you are
You know what? I’m no 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
Ooh, I’m a lover
You’re true about me
My Mama was, my Papa too
I tell you one thing
Well tell me
I’m the only son of a gun, yeah this side of the sun
Alright
You’re a tramp, Otis
No I’m not
I don’t care what you say, you’re still a tramp
Don’t call me 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 catch them, baby
Oh, you foolin’
You’re still a tramp
That’s alright
You a tramp, Otis, you just a tramp
That’s alright
You wear overalls, you need a haircut, baby
Cut off some of that hair off your head
You think you a lover, huh?
Same & Other 