Talk:Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves

"South of Mobile"

 * The lyrics of the song are often ridiculed for their claim to have "picked up a boy just south of Mobile", "just south of Mobile" being somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ridiculed by whom? Also, looking at the map at Mobile, Alabama, it looks like it is indeed possible to be "south of Mobile" while on land, so the ridicule might be unwarranted. - furrykef (Talk at me) 03:10, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

There is no indication that the song is talking about Mobile, Alabama. There is a Mobile, California that is located just 5 miles away from El Centro, California, where Cher was born. Has anyone found any sources regarding this? --Mintrepublic (talk) 21:07, 9 July 2009 (UTC)

I took out this nonsense: "However, the actual lyrics are "...this side of Mobile."  Cher very distinctly says "just south of Mobile", no reasonable person could argue it was anything else. I also sampled half a dozen lyrics pages and every one of them said "south". - 96.233.155.80 (talk) 05:21, 2 September 2011 (UTC) Earthshine

"Doctor Good"?
I'd like to see a good explanation of the term "dr good" as used in this song. I'm sure it refers to some snake oil placebo, but I couldn't cite anything for that info. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.230.8.161 (talk) 21:34, 20 October 2008 (UTC)


 * I've heard from older family members that "Dr. Good" was an old term for any kind of cure-all elixir, usually some kind of snake oil. No real sources though. --Mintrepublic (talk) 21:07, 9 July 2009 (UTC)

Is there a cite for the lyric? I always thought it was "Dr. fluid" -- patent medicine (drink). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.8.36.64 (talk) 10:11, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

Dr Good is an old name given to traveling alchemist/gypsies who sold medicine that would "add vigor to your love life, cure aids twice, return site and teach your dog to read upside down!" generally it was efered to in america as snake oil and is refered to today but its true names of a scam, fraud or simply a placebo mixture. however in some countries it earnt the rep of Dr Good in that it promised all these positives with no side effects and was often made from mixing a few herbs and lfowers in water.

the experimental age of science. was a fun time indeed.152.91.9.153 (talk) 03:57, 1 August 2012 (UTC)

"Song Information"
I would recommend that this section either be revised to include actual background information or be removed. As it sits now, it is merely a loosen written copy of the lyrics. Modor (talk) 13:07, 2 June 2009 (UTC)Modor

This song "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" would be viewed differently if it insulted any other ethnic/racial group, but for some reason, since it insults the Romani (Gypsy) people, no one cares that every now and then we hear this song on the radio, and can buy it in your local music store. Racism of any sort makes me feel uncomfortable.


 * Just imagine if it had retained the original title of "Gypsys, Tramps and White Trash".  Then it would be insulting two ethnic/racial groups.   Actually I've heard the song on the radio a number of times and never heard its title until I Googled the opening line.

2001:558:6011:1:9975:DAD7:61C2:1D96 (talk) 03:30, 26 February 2018 (UTC)


 * Fine then, be uncomfortable. Everyone else can return to the topic, please.2A00:C1A0:4893:AD00:C8AA:7E25:273E:967B (talk) 11:51, 3 June 2017 (UTC)

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.214.102.174 (talk) 01:56, 12 July 2010 (UTC) Gypsy is not necessarily synomynous to Romani! You have Romani who are hardworking and are no gypsies, on the other hand you have also gypsy Romani, it's a big difference! Real gypsies are nomadic thieves or musicians and they are proud of their culture too! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.169.179.212 (talk) 12:01, 4 February 2012 (UTC)

The word "Gypsy" was from the title "Gyptian", which the Turks originally called the early Romani as they traveled through their lands for the first time. It meant "Egyptian", as many Turks believed that they came from Egypt. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.180.129.37 (talk) 06:03, 5 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Oh my gracious. Another racist. Come on! Clearly this is the telling of a story to show that anyone who spoke bad of them were hypocrites. Geez, sounds like it's not racist at all. Oh wait, maybe people in Mobile were insulted because they said the jerk was from the area. Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? That's funny because I actually LIVE south of Mobile, so if I'm not insulted, then no one else should be either. Thanks. MagnoliaSouth (talk) 04:38, 2 February 2015 (UTC)

Gold Status - 1 million or 0.5 million?
I looked up this song on the RIAA site and it shows .5 million copies sold, not 1 million? I'm thinking back in the 70's, that was the standard for a Gold Record? The same applies to her song, Half Breed, where a claim is made that it sold 1 million copies, although the RIAA site only shows .5 million. Mandtillman (talk) 12:28, 6 March 2024 (UTC)