I was born on a farm in Alabama   And I was raised on God and cane and old ways   But now I'm rollin down the road in the Motor City   This is a tramp singin a song about a tramp      Well I did some time blow my mind in Texas   And I fell in love down in Monterey   But now I'm rollin down the road in the Motor City   This is a tramp singin a song about a tramp      Oh Lord, I wasn't born here   And I pray to the Lord above I'll never die here   But now I'm rollin down the road in the Motor City   This is a tramp singin a song about a tramp   Oh like that river   I got to keep on rollin   Like that river   Got to keep on rollin         Well I spent some time on the sidewalks of New York City   And I toast some wine down in Harlem   But now I'm rollin down the road in the Motor City   This is a tramp singin a song about a tramp      Now I'm rollin down the road in the Motor City   This is a tramp singin a song about a tramp