Tuesday July 21, 2020 “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” Cher

We could have included Cher in each of the decades as she has had charted songs forever and is the only artist to have number one songs in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s , 90’s, 00’s, and 2010’s  Not a bad accomplishment.

 This Cher number one song, had to go with the misspelling of "Gypsys", was originally titled “Gypsys, Tramps & White Trash” but someone wisely decided it needed to be changed to the more acceptable, but not by much, “Thieves”.  The song has been credited as launching Cher’s solo career after her break with then former husband Sonny.

 Cher began her career as a background singer on several hit singles and then  as part of a duo, Cesear & Cleopatra which was composed  of her and Sonny Bono, a protege of  legendary producer Phil Spector protege Sonny Bono. Cesear and Cleopatra didn’t hit but with a name change and a Phil Spector wall of sound production she became part of the very successful duo, Sonny & Cher.  They would have ten top 20 songs before their marriage would fall apart and Cher would launch her solo career. 

In addition to her many singles and albums Cher also has a successful acting career having appeared in 18 films and she has been nominated for an Oscar several times and won once.  In addition to Oscr, she has more than 125 awards including Emmys, Grammys, Drama League, Golden Globes, Record of the Year, People’s Choice and is listed twice in the Guinness Book of World Records, you might want to check that last one out for yourself.

 Cher is both politically and philanthropically active and once when discussing how she always looks young she joked that “...at the end of the world all that will be left are cockroaches and Cher”.

 Stay safe and well...and away from travellin’ shows.

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

 Gypsy's, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsy's, 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

 Gypsy's, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsy's, 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

 Gypsy's, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsy's, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around

And lay their money down

 Gypsy's, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsy's, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around

And lay their money down