He's A Tramp
Peggy Lee (Lady & the Tramp) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a dog
He's a tramp, but I love him
Breaks a new heart every day
He's a tramp, they adore him
And I only hope he'll stay that way
He's a rounder, he's a cad
He's a tramp, but I love him
Yes, even I have got it pretty bad
You can never tell when he'll show up
He gives you plenty of trouble
I guess he's just a no 'count pup
But I wish that he were double
He's a tramp, he's a rover
And there's nothing more to say
If he's a tramp, he's a good one
And I wish that I could travel his way
Wish that I could travel his way
Wish that I could travel his way
The song "He's a Tramp" by Peggy Lee from the Disney movie "Lady and the Tramp" is about a charming but unreliable man who goes by the name Tramp. The song expresses the singer's love for him despite his flaws and his tendency to break hearts. Tramp is described as a scoundrel, rounder, and cad, but the singer cannot help loving him. She hopes that he will continue to be a freewheeling, roving individualistic person who does not settle down or get tied down by responsibility. She is attracted to his carefree lifestyle and wants to be like him. Although Tramp gives her trouble, she wishes that she could travel his way, experience what he experiences, and live a life without restrictions.
Overall, the song is about the conflict between freedom and love. Tramp's personality and lifestyle are both attractive and repelling to the singer, and she struggles to reconcile her feelings. She knows that Tramp is a tramp, but she loves him nonetheless, and she would not change him even if she could. The song's upbeat jazz melody and energetic rhythm complement the sensual and playful vocals, creating a cheerful and catchy tune that captures the essence of Tramp's character.
Line by Line Meaning
What a dog
He's not just any ordinary dog - he's one of a kind
He's a tramp, but I love him
He may not be the most respectable or responsible guy around, but I still have strong feelings for him
Breaks a new heart every day
He has a habit of leading people on and then breaking their hearts when he moves on to the next person
He's a tramp, they adore him
Despite his reputation, people still love and admire him for his charm and carefree attitude
And I only hope he'll stay that way
I don't want him to change who he is or become more responsible, because it's his wild and free spirit that I love
He's a tramp, he's a scoundrel
He's not exactly the most honorable or trustworthy person, and he's been known to cause trouble
He's a rounder, he's a cad
He's a smooth talker who knows how to work his way into people's hearts, even if he doesn't always have the best intentions
Yes, even I have got it pretty bad
I'm not immune to his charms, even though I know he's not the best guy around
You can never tell when he'll show up
He's unpredictable and has a tendency to disappear for periods of time before popping up again unexpectedly
He gives you plenty of trouble
Being around him is rarely easy or straightforward, and he often causes more problems than he solves
I guess he's just a no 'count pup
In many ways, he's just a worthless or useless dog who doesn't contribute much to society
But I wish that he were double
Despite his flaws, I still wish there were more guys like him out there who were just as exciting and unpredictable
And there's nothing more to say
There's really no way to describe him or capture his essence in words - he's just a one-of-a-kind guy
If he's a tramp, he's a good one
Even though he's not always the most honorable guy, he's still a lovable and charismatic person who knows how to make people feel special
And I wish that I could travel his way
I wish that I could live life as carefree and fearless as he does, without worrying about the consequences of my actions
Wish that I could travel his way
I'm still envious of his ability to live without a care in the world, and I wish that I could be more like him
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: SONNY BURKE, PEGGY LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BeruBeruIce
You know a character is special when she's named after the person who voices her in both talking and singing version.
@Sweet_Dee
As a little kid, I ADORED Peg and this song. I understood the general message but I didn't know what some words like "rounder" and "cad" meant. I remember thinking she says "he's a cat," which to me, seemed like a pretty good diss coming from a dog, especially because of how cats are portrayed in the movie 😹
@rebeccamiller9558
I remember being about 5 and my mom saying that the tramp dates all the ladies but never marries them. Thats why they call him a cad.
@Narakmakmak83
me too hahaha
@ShazanFoxBox
Omigosh it wasn't just me!!
@valerieellison2483
I had always thought she said he was a "rat" which made Lady's reaction to that word make sense to me as a kid.
@ElvisLivesUpstairs
I'm 38 and I just realised it's cad not cat thanks to this comment 😂
@jaybonn5973
For that one time I barely remember hearing this song 15 years ago, the subtext flew entirely over my head.
@Broken_Everlark7
It's still definitely going over even adults heads 😂😂 I honestly didn't get it as a kid. But watching it again, I'm amazed they didn't get it censored
@goldilox369
Lol, IKR? 😂