I was born in the wagon of a travelin' 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 woulda 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 schoolin' 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 travelin' 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

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

Gypsies, tramps, and thieves


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves Lyrics as written by Bob Stone

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I think it's a short and simple story that begins flipping the middle finger at the gossipy bitches who would verbally trash and smear them, likely unaware their husbands were hanging out and paying for their affection at night. Then tells about her carnival clan recruiting a hungry street kid in Alabama who managed to seduce and impregnate her as their show headed to Tennessee and then ditched her, and closes by giving the impression she had a child that just carried on the same life style

    JoeTheSolutionon February 22, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Mobile should be capitalized. Like south of Mobile, AL.

    aaronplaneon February 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like this song. I like to sing along. It sounds kinda folklorish to me, like a story some gypsies. But thats just me.

    angeleyes07on March 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is about a gypsy girl who probably got raped by the boy they picked up... either raped or he seduced her. Either way, he left her with the baby and now the kid is going to live the same life that she had to live.

    lizzieluvs2playon June 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    For some reason, I listened to this song for years and years before realizing that the last verse was actually talking about the narrator's daughter. I'm slow. But yeah, it made me love it all the more.

    savestheday730on May 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is so hard to get out of my head after i listen to it.

    Sorpahon August 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song!!! However, I have always had one problem with the lyrics. I live in Alabama, so I enjoy the reference to Mobile. The problem is that Mobile sits on the northern edge of Mobile Bay. The only thing that lies to the south of it is the Gulf of Mexico. Just a little tidbit, but it bothers me noentheless. Like I said, I still love this song.

    Blazr57on March 26, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Chers half Gypsy so its probably about the earlier years in her life :) great song too been singing it for nearly a week now and still not bored of it :D

    TamaChanon December 21, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Mobile is along the northern part of Mobile Bay, yes, but it is on the western edge, not the northern edge. There are a number of towns "just south of Mobile", including Mon Louis, Alabama Port, Heron Bay, and Dauphin Island.

    jeff109483on March 14, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    She is singing about marginalised people.

    delia17601on September 25, 2018   Link

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