“The Tramp's Story”
Description
The tramp asks to sit and rest. Tramps have to live, "though folks don't think we should." He used to be a blacksmith. Then a stranger led his love Nellie astray. She died soon after he abandoned her. The tramp intends to find and punish the stranger
Notes
This is a difficult conundrum: It is unquestionably related to "The Lehigh Valley," with which it shares a plot and occasional words. The question is, which is original?
The natural inclination, of course, is to think that "Lehigh Valley," which is more firmly traditional and, in its crude way more vigorous, is the source. And yet, "The Tramp's Story" is *so* much more feeble that it's hard to imagine "Lehigh Valley" being expurgated so far.
It is worth noting that Brown's version contains a reference to the Lehigh Valley.
Plus, this song adds the moralizing conclusion about the girl's death. It's really a bit thick -- as any half-decent songwriter would surely recognize. So I'm just not sure.
The original by Edward Hannigan is said to be from the 1882 play "Squatter Sovereignty."
Milburn prints no fewer than six songs on this theme. Obviously the plot proved popular.
For background on Edward Harrigan, see the notes to "Babies on Our Block." - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight?" (plot)
- cf. "The Lehigh Valley" (plot)
- cf. "Remember the Poor Tramp Has to Live" (plot)
- cf. "The Deserted Husband" (theme)
References
- Randolph 844, "The Tramp's Story" (1 text)
- BrownIII 358, "Tale of a Tramp" (1 text)
- Roud #7448
- BI, R844