I was born in the wagon of a traveling show
My mama used to dance for the money they'd throw
Papa would do whatever
he could
Preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of Doctor Good
Gypsies, tramps and thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us gypsies, tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
Picked up a boy just south of Mobile
Gave him a ride, filled him with a hot meal
I was sixteen, he was twenty-one
Rode with us to Memphis
And papa would have shot him if he knew what he'd done
Gypsies, tramps and thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us gypsies,
tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
I never had schooling but he taught me well
With his smooth Southern style
Three months later
I'm a gal in trouble
And I haven't seen him for a while, uh-huh
I haven't seen him for a while, uh-huh
She was born in the wagon of a traveling show
Her mama had to dance for the money they'd throw
Grandpa'd do whatever he could
Preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of Doctor Good
Gypsies, tramps and thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us gypsies,
tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
