Tramp
Redding (Otis) Lyrics
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What you call me? (tramp!)
No 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 am a lover
(Matter of opinion) that's all right, mama was, papa too
And I'm the only child, lovin' is all I know to do
(You know what, Otis?) what? (you're country)
(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, boogaloo, all that stuff
And I'm the only son-of-a-gun this side of the Sun
Tramp! (yeah, that's what you are)
(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, Mustangs, ooh, I'm a lover
My mama was, my papa too
I'm gonna tell you one thing (well, tell me)
I'm the only son-of-a-gun this side of the sun.
(You're a tramp, Otis) (no I'm not)
(I don't care what you say, you're still a tramp) what's wrong with that?
(Lookee here, ou 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 and catch them, baby)
Oh, you goofy, now (no, you're still a tramp) that's all right
(Tramp, Otis, you just a tramp) that's all right, that's all right
You wear overalls, you need a haircut, baby
Cut off some of that hair off your head
You think you a lover, huh?
The song "Tramp" by Redding Otis and Thomas Carla is a playful and flirtatious conversation between a man and a woman where they are teasing each other with humorous insults. The song opens with the woman calling the man "tramp" because he is not dressed in "continental clothes or Stetson hats." However, the man is quick to respond by saying that he is a "lover" and that is all that matters. The woman continues to tease him by pointing out that he is "country" and his attire is that of someone who hails from the Georgia woods. The man, however, takes this in his stride and insists that he is proud of his roots.
As the conversation progresses, the man brags about his possessions, including six Cadillacs, five Lincolns, four Fords, six Mercuries, three T-Birds, and Mustangs. The woman, however, is not impressed and points out that money cannot buy everything, including her love. The man responds by saying that he can buy her anything she wants, including minks, rats, frogs, squirrels, and rabbits, which the woman finds amusing. The song concludes with the man and the woman continuing to tease each other about their appearance and personality traits.
Overall, the song is a lighthearted and fun conversation between two people who are attracted to each other but are also comfortable in teasing and playfully insulting each other.
Line by Line Meaning
(Tramp!)
The song begins with the title being said, insinuating that the person being referred to is a tramp.
What you call me? (tramp!)
The person being referred to is questioning why they are being called a tramp.
No you didn't! (you don't wear continental clothes, or Stetson hats)
The person being referred to is stating that they do not wear fancy clothing or accessories like Stetson hats.
Well, I tell you one doggone thing
It makes me feel good to know one thing, I know I am a lover
The person being referred to is stating that being a lover makes them feel good and they know that they are one.
(Matter of opinion) that's all right, mama was, papa too
And I'm the only child, lovin' is all I know to do
The person being referred to concedes that being a lover is a matter of opinion, but they learned it from their parents and it's all they know how to do.
(You know what, Otis?) what? (you're country)
That's all right (you straight from the Georgia woods) that's good!
The person speaking to Otis is calling him 'country', referring to where he originated from in Georgia, but Otis does not seem bothered by it.
(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)
The person speaking to Otis is mocking his clothing and hairstyle, but Otis responds by saying that he is a lover.
Mama was, grandmama, papa too, boogaloo, all that stuff
And I'm the only son-of-a-gun this side of the Sun
Otis is saying that being a lover runs in his family and he is the only one like him.
(You're a tramp, Otis) (no I'm not)
(I don't care what you say, you're still a tramp) what's wrong with that?
The person speaking to Otis repeatedly calls him a tramp, but Otis does not see it as a bad thing.
(Lookee here, ou 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 and catch them, baby)
Oh, you goofy, now (no, you're still a tramp) that's all right
The person speaking to Otis is pointing out that he does not have a lot of money, but Otis responds by saying he can buy anything the person wants, even if it means going to the Georgia woods to catch it. The person continues to call Otis a tramp.
(Tramp, Otis, you just a tramp) that's all right, that's all right
You wear overalls, you need a haircut, baby
Cut off some of that hair off your head
You think you a lover, huh?
The person speaking to Otis continues to tease and call him a tramp, but Otis does not seem to be bothered by it and continues to claim that he is a lover.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ONErpm
Written by: JIMMY MCCRACKLIN, LOWELL FULSOM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@That_AMC_Guy
@@Hamman21 Stax was not the most well-equipped studio even into the 1970's. If memory serves me, they shelled out the big money for an AMPEX 8-track tape machine in 1965 or '66.... but they used that machine well into the 70's. I don't think they had the money to go 16-track until sometime in 1971. The Shaft Soundtrack by Isaac Hayes was probably one of their first - if not THE first 16-track session at Stax.
For comparison, the big boy studios controlled by the likes of RCA or Columba were 16-track by the fall of 1968. Even some of the independent studios like the Record Plant in New York or American Sound in LA were 16-track no later than 1970.
Recording vocals is no easy task. You also had to consider distortion. Are you familiar with the Beatles song "Revolution"? EMI engineers originally told the boys they could not cut that record. The needle would jump out of the groove!
Otis' voice would cause lots of distortion if his voice weren't toned-down a bit when he gets loud.
So many things to consider in this case.... his vocal mike.... how many takes they tried to do, what the booth sounded like..... the recording process in the 60's was pretty difficult.
@queenratv115
I’m here 2023 I’m 68 love this song
@cohoegravitino5559
I think that this song loves you too.
@raymyslewski9494
I think I've heard this with my friends. Of course it was, like, 1968 when it came out. But I've heard this kind of back and forth across tables many times. "Oakland's Own"...
@darrenduncan1674
😂 This old familiar comical duet with the late great Otis Redding just popped into my head for no particular reason at all while I was washing my dishes this morning and it kept playing over and over in my mind on 10/25/23. So that's what brought me here. Haven't heard it in years.
@raymyslewski9494
Same thing here. I take a 3 mile walk every morning. Four years running. I was just walking and I thought "...And you need a haircut, Tramp...", "Woman, you too!"
@EmmelineBT
Ain’t nobody still killing it like Otis man!! Heart and soul ❤️
@robcockayne
Doesn't come anywhere near Lowell
@stevengilmore1509
Wilson Pickett too. Driving force soul!
@goosedoesnotapprove
I think of Rooster entering the bar in Top Gun whenever I hear this
@stevengilmore1509
That is exactly why I sought out this song!