BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps

Subject: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Beer
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 03:48 PM

Here is the question. Is there a difference between the three and what are they?

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: GUEST,Hood River Brownie
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 03:57 PM

A tramp is a migratory worker. A hobo is a migratory non-worker. A bum
is a non-migratory non-worker.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 03:57 PM

Hobos will work, tramps will beg or steal. At least, it used to be that way. Bums were simply wanderers.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 04:07 PM

Isn't it a Cher song?

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 04:08 PM

Dang: I read an intreresting article just on this topic (unfortunately, it was many years ago.) Part of the distinction is whether or not the person works for a living. I expect that Bums look for handouts. Hoboes travel around the country but are willing to work for food. Not sure where that leaves tramps.

In the article, they talked about the colorful nicknames that all hoboes have. The nickname they use for Jesus is Jerusalem Slim. It prompted me to write this song..

Jerusalem Slim

You can find him by the campfires late at night
Or wading in the river in the morning light
And he always took the time to lend a hand
He was kinda slow movin' for a travelin' man
And thought he never had a dime to lend
He never met a man he didn't call a friend

CHORUS:

   No sooner did he come than he'd be gone
   And he never had a home to call his own
   So if you get in trouble you can call on him
   'Cause you never had a friend like Jerusalem Slim

Jerusalem Slim, he was long and tall
And every down-and-outer, well he knew them all
And even though he never had a dime to lend
He never met a man he didn't call a friend

Now, living on the road is nothing new
But if you need a hand just to get you through
If you're feeling down and you're all alone
Well, he knows all about it, 'cause he's walked that road

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Once Famous
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 04:09 PM

Damn, got beat out on that Cher song thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Shields Folk
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 05:06 PM

I don't think we have Hobos and Bums in the UK?

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 05:17 PM

Now I remember what it was. Bums become umpires or run for public office.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: GUEST,AR282
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 05:21 PM

From an unnamed online source:

Bum (noun) - The area at the seat of the pants.

Tramp (noun) - Every girl that I ever introduced to mom.

Hobo (noun) - The Texan crackshots that killed Kennedy.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: gnomad
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 05:24 PM

Wel, SF, I reckon most of us have a bum, but it's a different sort from the stateside variety 8-). As for hobos; I seem to remember some sort of penny sweet of that name in the 60's.

Mostly we have just tramps, I suppose that a dosser would be our equivalent of the US bum?

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 05:33 PM

It used to be that the hoboes had a sort of informal national organization, and they (or at least many of them) would meet in convention somewhere in New York, as I recall.   And during the meeting they would elect (or re-elect) a "King of the Hoboes".

Lest you get the wrong impression, the above is the plain truth, not a fictional workup to a joke.

Many years ago I read some newspaper's interview with the King of the Hoboes. The reporter asked, "What's the difference between a hobo and a tramp and a bum?"

The King replied, in almost these verbatim words:

"A Hobo will work, and move on. A tramp will bum, and move on. A bum will just bum."

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 06:04 PM

That's what I always understood too, Dave.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Bert
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 06:24 PM

Er, Beer, you missed politicians.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Kaleea
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 06:25 PM

Golly gee willikers! (I know, I should be censored for bad words) I really am cornfused, now.

From dictionary.com:


hobo
   1. One who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or a means of livelihood.
   2. A migrant worker.


intr.v. ho·boed, ho·bo·ing, ho·boes

    To live or wander like a vagrant.

=======================
bum

n. Chiefly British Slang

    The buttocks.

bum
n.
   1. A tramp; a vagrant.
   2. A lazy or shiftless person, especially one who seeks to live solely by the support of others.
   3. An incompetent, insignificant, or obnoxious person: The batter called the pitcher a bum.
   4. One who is devoted to a particular activity or milieu: a beach bum.

===================
tramp

n.

   1.
         1. A heavy footfall.
         2. The sound produced by heavy walking or marching.
   2. A walking trip; a hike.
   3. One who travels aimlessly about on foot, doing odd jobs or begging for a living; a vagrant.
   4.
         1. A prostitute.
         2. A person regarded as promiscuous.
   5. Nautical. A tramp steamer.
   6. A metal plate attached to the sole of a shoe for protection, as when spading ground.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 06:48 PM

I know I'm a hobo, but WHO said I was a bum?

We almost wore out the old 78 of that and ALWAYS requested it when dad sang.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Beer
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 07:02 PM

Good stuff from all.
Beer

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 09:51 PM

Ahhh reminds me of a song.....

words and music traditional


Of all the trades in England, a-beggin' is the best
For when a beggar's tired, You can lay him down to rest.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I got a pocket for me oatmeal, and another for me rye.
I got a bottle by me side to drink when I am dry.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I got patches on me cloak, and black patch on me knee.
When you come to take me home, I'll drink as well as thee.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I got a pocket for me ... and another for me malt
I got a pair of little crutches, you should see how I can halt.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I sleep beneath an open tree, and there I pay no rent.
Providence provides for me, and I am well content.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

I fear no plots against me. I live an open cell.
Who would be a king then when beggars live so well.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

Of all the trades in England, a-begging is the best.
For when a beggar's tired, you can lay him down to rest.
And a-begging I will go, a-begging I will go. (x2)

KEY Dm

verse:
Dm Gm Dm A7

chorus:
Gm Dm Gm-A7-Dm

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 03:47 AM

This thread is si interesting I just farted.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 04:28 AM

I hate this thread.
I can't get the Cher song out of my head.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: clairerise
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 05:44 AM

thanks a lot joe. now its lodged in my head too. proceeding to hit my head with force

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 09:34 AM

OK, what Cher song?

I thought from reading British books that tramp was English for the American bum.
I also thought that tramps traveled by foot and hoboes, by rail.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 09:34 AM

Oh, and I also thought that the very first answer was beautifully put.

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 04:46 PM

One correction:

In "A beggin' I will go", the black patch is not on his "knee"; he has the black patch on his "e'e", that is, his eye. He pretends to be blind, to be more pitiful.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 05:36 PM

Thanks Dave O I can't remember all the words to the song.. memory not what it used to be :)

Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 06:56 PM

Mrr, Gypsies, tramps, and thieves

Hey guys, don't shoot me...she asked!**smile**

Subject: RE: BS: Hobos, Bums and Tramps
From: gnu
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 07:04 PM

And all the men would come around.....

Yes... disgusting song, innit?