I'm curious about the origin of the term "on the charlie" AKA on the bum, hobo-ing, etc. The Ballad Index lists "Been on the Cholly so Long" as a variant of the "Joseph Mica" branch of the "Casey Jones" ballad family, and D.K. Wilgus mentioned the term on the liner notes to Native American Ballads on RCA. Jerry Silverman's Folk Song Encyclopedia also contains a song called "Been on the Charlie So Long." But I can't find anything else about the term, where it came from, etc.