Steve Miller (born 5 October 1943) is a blues and rock and roll guitarist and performer. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but attended high school in Dallas. While at St. Mark's School of Texas, he formed his first band, The Marksmen. Miller taught one of his classmates, Royce Boz Scaggs, a few guitar chords so that he could join the band; Scaggs became better known by his nickname, Boz. Miller attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the 1960s, where he formed The Ardells. Scaggs joined the Ardells the next year. Ben Sidran was added to the Ardells as a keyboardist the following year.
In 1968, Miller formed the Steve Miller Band, with Scaggs handling vocals, and released an album, Children of the Future, the first in a series of discs rooted solidly in the psychedelic blues style that dominated the San Francisco music scene at the time. Scaggs would leave the band after a couple of albums with vocal chores taken over by drummer Tim Davis; Miller himself would begin singing occasional lead on 1969's Brave New World. These albums performed respectably on the album charts but failed to yield a hit.
In the 1970's the band had some hits that became classics over the years - Jet Airliner, with some evocative lyrics that brought home the loss of life on the road; and The Joker which includes the famous line about the "pompatus of love", which is of course nonsense, but that didn't stop a lot of stoned folks from spending years talking amongst themselves.
Steve Miller's father was a wealthy doctor in Dallas, and friends with famous guitarist and guitar designer Les Paul. Les Paul gave Miller his first guitar lessons.
Longtime member Norton Buffalo (harmonica player) died from lung cancer on October 30, 2009.
John King (drummer during "The Joker" era) died after a short bout of kidney cancer on October 26, 2010.
Band-member James Cooke died from cancer on 16 May 2011.
Tramp
Steve Miller Band Lyrics
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You can call me that.
I don't wear continental clothes
Stestson hats.
But I'm a lover
Mama was, Papa too.
I'm not a child
Love is all I know to do.
Call me country
That a new word
I'll answer when you call me,
Baby, I mean, if that makes You feel good
But I'm just a lover
Mama was, Papa too.
But I'm not a child
Love is all I know to do.
Now: Whatever You call me,
I'll even go for that!
'Cause I keep a fat bank roll in my pocket Baby!
You know, I want three Cadillacs
'Cause I'm just a lover.
Mama was, Papa too.
I'm not a child
Love is all I know to do.
The Steve Miller Band's "Tramp" is a song about self-acceptance and embracing one's own identity, regardless of what others may call you. The lyrics are about the singer being called a tramp and country, which are usually used as derogatory terms, but the singer has no problem with them. He is proud of who he is and where he comes from, as his mother and father were both lovers, just like himself. The singer's only job is to spread love and he does it quite well.
The chorus of the song repeats the singer's point that he is not a child and his only job is to be a lover, just like his parents. He does not need fancy clothes or hats to prove himself as a lover. He only needs his heart and his ability to love. The verses mention the singer's bankroll and his desire for three Cadillacs, but these are not the things that define him. He is still just a lover at the end of the day.
"Tramp" was released in 1968 as a single from the album "Children of the Future". The song was written by Lowell Fulson and Jimmy McCracklin and was originally released in 1967 as a blues song by Fulson. It was covered by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas in 1967 as a duet. Steve Miller's version was a rock adaptation of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Tramp,
Although you may call me a tramp, I am comfortable with that label.
You can call me that.
I acknowledge and accept the name you have given me.
I don't wear continental clothes Stetson hats.
I don't dress in fancy, expensive clothing or accessories.
But I'm a lover Mama was, Papa too.
Despite my appearance, I have a great capacity for love, which I learned from my parents.
I'm not a child Love is all I know to do.
Although I may not be mature in appearance, love is the only thing I know how to give.
Call me country That a new word I'll answer when you call me, Baby, I mean, if that makes You feel good
If being called 'country' makes you happy, I am okay with that and will respond to the nickname 'Baby'.
But I'm just a lover Mama was, Papa too.
I am a lover at heart, just like my parents were before me.
Now: Whatever You call me, I'll even go for that!
I am open to being called anything, as long as it comes from a place of affection or respect.
'Cause I keep a fat bank roll in my pocket Baby! You know, I want three Cadillacs
I may have money, as evidenced by the fat bankroll in my pocket, and I have a desire for luxury items like three Cadillacs.
'Cause I'm just a lover. Mama was, Papa too. I'm not a child Love is all I know to do.
Even with money and a desire for nice things, love is still my primary focus and what I am best at.
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