She was born in a wagon of a travelin' show
Her mother used to dance for the money they'd throw.
Her brother would do whatever he could
Preach a little Gospel--and he would preach as little as he could.
(Chorus)
Gypsies, Trash-can Thieves, they'd hear it from the people of the town; they'd call them
Gypsies, Trash-can Thieves; but ev'ry night all the girls would come around--and lay their bodies down.
I was picked up by a girl just south of Mobile
They gave me a ride, filled me with a hot meal
She was sixteen, I was twenty-one
I rode with them to Memphis; and her Poppa would have shot me if he knew what I'd done!
(Chorus)
I never had schooling but I taught her well with my smooth Southern style
Three months later she's a gal in trouble and she hasn't seen me for a while, for a while.....
He was born in a wagon of a travelin' show
His mother had to dance for the money they'd throw
His uncle would do whatever he could,
Preach a little Gospel--and he would preach as little as he could.
(Chorus)