The Carter's 1937 song, Broken Down Tramp is related to "Broken Down Sport" collected in 1929. Norm Cohen in his book Long Steel Rail gives a detailed account of the Tramp songs. The link below is to that book showing an early version from Sam McGee.

http://books.google.com/books?id=AY7St4-8x10C&pg=PA347&lpg=PA350&dq=Broken+Down+Tramp&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html


There are several songs in 1870-80s like "Only a Tramp." Meade references "Broken Down Tramp" Words and Music by Thomas Herrington from the 1870s. I haven't found the sheet music.

BROKEN DOWN TRAMP- Carter Family

I'm a broken down tramp without money
My clothes are all tattered and torn
And I am so sad and so lonely
I wish I had never been born

All through this wide world I have wandered
Inquiring for something to do
But whenever I ask for a job of work
They say they have none for a tramp

Now drink was the cause of my downfall
From the money I had I bought rum
And the friends that were mine when I had it
Now pass by and call me a bum

Now don't be too hasty to judge me
As I drift along with the tide
My clothes may be ragged and dirty
But a clean heart is beating inside

One night on a dark lonely railroad
A hobo all hungry and cold
Saw an empty boxcar on the siding
He climbed in and closed up the door

Six miles he had rode on the railway
When the brakeman came 'round with his light
He was shoved from the car and was killed by the train
Because he was only a tramp

Now young men, let this be a warning
For all you who long for the road
Better stick to the straight life and don't be like me
A poor bum to die in the cold