"Charlie was originally called The Ballad of Jim Bob Janet. I was about 22 when I wrote it, and at the time I was really immersed in Von Goethe’s Faust. The song never really had a home, and one night at an afterhours at Zen Ben’s house I whipped it out when the acoustic came my way. Ben and Thommy liked it and we came up with an arrangement that suited Hoboe with relative ease. I think we were playing it out within a week."
--Bob Bergeron
lyrics
She came from the wild with a dream and some style
Gonna make it big in the city
With a handheld beret, she managed to pay for a dress that made her look pretty
Pay no regard to her – those were her younger days
The spirit’s beat out of her – I think she’ll be coming on home
She took up in a bind with the questionable kind
smokin’ and drinkin’ her respect out
Every morning was bright when she threw away the night
She needed to kill time ‘til the next one
It’s not unusual to whip up the carousel and turn on the music to full circus bleat
Feels kind of magical when you can be tragical
Don’t’cha laugh when the coroner tickles your feet
Old Lucifer’s aim, old Scratch’s tired game
Was daring the lord to do better
Old Scratch smiled and laughed while the thunderstorms did crash
He said I bet you my freedom that I get her
She said I’ve met the devil and I now know him well
Is it better to serve heaven or ruling in Hell
Mama don’t you cry for me and papa don’t you pray
I turned to you to tell me - you turned me away
When the mourners all passed for the first time at last
They wondered was her new road filled with sorrow
For some of them knew, lies we tell today
Are truths somehow tomorrow
credits
from Travel By 7 Planes,
released January 1, 2012
music and lyrics by Bob Bergeron
lead vocals, bass: Bob Bergeron
oboe, rhythm guitar, backup vocals: zen ben
lead guitar, backup vocals, Thom Metz
drums: Jon Bangs
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