Gleason could not read or write music in a conventional sense; he was said to have conceived melodies in his head and described them vocally to staff help. He did likewise with the well-remembered themes of both The Jackie Gleason Show ("Melancholy Serenade") and The Honeymooners ("You're My Greatest Love"). There has been some controversy over the years as to how much credit Gleason should have received for the finished products; it has been written that beyond the possible conceptualizing of many of the songs, Gleason had no direct involvement such as conducting in the making of these recordings. However, his main musical companion, cornetist and trumpeter Bobby Hackett once said: "Jackie knows a lot more about music than people give him credit for. I have seen him conduct a sixty-piece orchestra and detect one discordant note in the brass section. He would immediately stop the music and locate the wrong note. It always amazed the professional musicians how a guy who technically did not know one note from another could do that. And he was never wrong."
Born February 26, 1916 in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He died on June 24, 1987
The Lady Is A Tramp
Jackie Gleason Lyrics
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She likes the theater and never comes late
She never bothers with people she'd hate
That's why the lady is a tramp
Doesn't like crap games with barons or earls
Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls
She likes the free, fresh wind in her hair
Life without care
She's broke, and it's "OK"
Hates California, it's cold and it's damp
That's why the lady is a tramp
She gets too hungry to wait for dinner at eight
She loves the theater but never comes late
She'd never bother with people she'd hate
That's why the lady is a tramp
She'll have no crap games with sharpies and frauds
And she won't go to Harlem in Lincolns or Fords
And she won't dish the dirt with the rest of the broads
That's why the lady is a tramp
She'd love the free, fresh wind in her hair
Life without care
She's broke, but it's "OK"
Hates California, it's so cold and so damp
That's why the lady
That's why the lady
That's why the lady is a tramp
The song "The Lady Is a Tramp" by Jackie Gleason is about a woman who does not conform to society's expectations for a lady, but rather lives life on her own terms. She is independent, strong-willed, and does not care about material possessions or the opinions of others. She enjoys the simple things in life, like the fresh wind in her hair, and values authenticity and honesty over superficiality.
The lyrics describe the lady's disdain for things like fancy dinners and high-class events, as well as her refusal to participate in gossip and drama with other women. She is not interested in rubbing elbows with the elite, but instead embraces her humble beginnings and down-to-earth nature. She is also unapologetically true to herself, even if it means being broke and not fitting in with the glitz and glamour of places like California.
Line by Line Meaning
She gets too hungry for dinner at eight
She has a big appetite and cannot wait till eight for dinner.
She likes the theater and never comes late
She enjoys watching plays and always arrives on time.
She never bothers with people she'd hate
She avoids being with people she doesn't like.
That's why the lady is a tramp
That's what makes her an unconventional woman.
Doesn't like crap games with barons or earls
She isn't interested in gambling with wealthy people.
Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
She won't dress up extravagantly to visit Harlem.
Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls
She won't gossip with other women.
That's why the lady is a tramp
That's what makes her an unusual person.
She likes the free, fresh wind in her hair
She loves to feel the natural breeze on her hair.
Life without care
She doesn't worry about anything in life.
She's broke, and it's "OK"
She is short of money, but she is content with her life.
Hates California, it's cold and it's damp
She can't tolerate the cold and damp weather of California.
That's why the lady is a tramp
That's what makes her a non-conformist.
She gets too hungry to wait for dinner at eight
She gets very hungry early and can't wait until eight for dinner.
She loves the theater but never comes late
She likes watching plays, but she is never tardy.
She'd never bother with people she'd hate
She never wants to be with individuals she finds repugnant.
That's why the lady is a tramp
That's what makes her an unconventional woman.
She'll have no crap games with sharpies and frauds
She doesn't play dice games with deceitful and dishonest people.
And she won't go to Harlem in Lincolns or Fords
She doesn't like to dress up and take luxury cars to Harlem.
And she won't dish the dirt with the rest of the broads
She won't have a conversation containing malicious gossip with other women.
That's why the lady is a tramp
That's what makes her a peculiar lady.
She'd love the free, fresh wind in her hair
She wants to feel the refreshing breeze on her hair.
Life without care
She wants a worry-free life.
She's broke, but it's "OK"
She doesn't have much money, but she is content with her life.
Hates California, it's so cold and so damp
She hates California because it's very chilly and damp.
That's why the lady
That's why the lady
That's why the lady is a tramp
That's what makes her an unconventional lady.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind