Story Behind The Song

I've always had a soft spot for homeless people, especially in NYC where they are so much a part of life in the city. One day, while walking in Central Park, I saw a man pushing his belongings in a shopping cart, and the thought occured to me that perhaps "they weren't homeless, they're camping".

Song Description

A good time feel about a tragic subject; society's invisible poor, presented with humor and compassion framed within a rollicking honky-tonk tango.

Lyrics

THEY AIN?T HOMELESS-(THEY?RE CAMPIN?)

HEY MISTER TOURIST IN YOUR GOLFER?S CLOTHES,

I SEE YOU SCRATCHIN? YOUR HEAD WONDERIN? WHAT ARE THOSE?

THOSE PEOPLE EATIN? YOUR GARBAGE AND SMELLIN? LIKE PISS,

WELL, THERE?S AN EXPLANATION AND IT GOES LIKE THIS.

SEE IT AIN?T ALWAYS THE WAY THAT IT SEEMS,

SEEMS THEY JUST MISPLACED THEIR AMERICAN DREAMS,

LOOKIE CLOSER AND YOU?LL SEE WHAT I MEAN,

THEY AIN?T HOMELESS, UH-UH, THEY?RE CAMPIN?.



WELL IT?S A BON-VIVANT?S WORLD IN A SHOPPIN? CART,

YOU?D DO IT TOO, IF YOU WERE SMART.

DON?T HAVE TO SHOW UP FOR WORK IN NO COAT AND TIE,

THE SIGN SAYS ?GONE FISHIN?. BYE-BYE?.

SEE THEY JUST GAVE UP ON THAT OLD RAT RACE.

AN OPEN SKY RUSH IN TO TAKE ITS PLACE.

YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THEY?RE HOMELESS,

THEY?RE DOMICILE IS DOMELESS,

THEY AIN?T HOMELESS, UH UH, THEY?RE CAMPIN?.



FRESH AIR. SUNSHINE. MOONGLOW. AL FRESCO DINING. (REPEAT)

PARKBENCH. SUBWAY. HEATVENT. DON?T HEAR THEM WHINING




SO THE NEXT TIME THAT YOU?RE REACHING FOR YOUR POCKET CHANGE,

JUST TAKE YOUR CATHOLIC GUILT AND DO A RE-ARRANGE.

REMEMBER THERE AIN?T NO HOME LIKE A HOME ON THE RANGE,

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT AIN?T SO STRANGE.

TO LIVE OUTSIDE IN THE GREAT OUT-OF-DOORS,

WITH ALL THE JUNKIES AND THE RATS AND THE WHORES,

FORGET THOSE BLEEDIN? HEART COMMIES,

ALL MESSED UP BY THEIR MOMMIES,

THEY AIN?T HOMELESS, UH UH, THEY?RE CAMPIN?. (REPEAT)


(CONTINUE AND FADE OUT WITH VARIOUS AD-LIBS).


WORDS AND MUSIC BY ALKI STERIOPOULOS / MOO COW MUSIC
COPYRIGHT JULY 15, 1994 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED