ADD: The Ballad Of Charlie David (Sheldon Currie)

Subject: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Charlie David
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 17 Jan 12 - 06:25 PM

I'd been looking for it, and it isn't in the DT so I thought I might as well add it.

THE BALLAD OF CHARLIE DAVID
(Sheldon Currie)

My brother was a miner, his name was Charlie Dave,
He spent his young life laughing, and digging out his grave.

CHORUS
Oh Charlie David he was big, and Charlie Dave was strong,
And Charlie Dave was two feet wide, and almost six feet long.

When Charlie David was sixteen, he learned to chew and spit,
He went one day with Grandpa, and went to work in the pit.

When Charlie David was sixteen, he met his Maggie June,
On day shift weeks they met at eight, on back shift weeks at noon.

When Charlie David was sixteen, he said to June "Let's wed"
Maggie June was so surprised, she fell right out of bed.

When Charlie David was sixteen, June had a little boy,
Maggie June was not surprised, and Charlie jumped for joy.

When Charlie David was sixteen, the roof fell on his head,
His laughing mouth was filled with clay, now Charlie David is dead.

----

I originally got this from Jess Arrowsmith, who got it from her friend's wife when they were in Canada. To make up for the fact I was stealing her song, I managed to find out more about the song - all she had was "It's in Margaret's Museum". It seems it's better than that: Margaret's Museum is based on a short story by Currie, which in turn is based on this song - Currie wrote it while homesick and then turned it into a short story, which then got turned into the film Margaret's Museum and a stage play. I've lost my link for that but I'll find it later.

I'd add the tune but I'm not sure what format Mudcat wants for it, so just give us a shout and I'll write it out in whatever form is required. If you want to hear it, have a YouTube version of me singing it while I was procrastinating (but I've mucked about with it, because I'm a terrible person).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Charlie David
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 17 Jan 12 - 06:28 PM

(I hope this is right for submitting to the DT, I had a look at the FAQ but I'm tired and I've an exam in 9 hours)

---

Perfect! -Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Charlie David
From: GUEST,Jamie
Date: 27 Feb 22 - 01:41 AM

I think in the film, the song goes: His laughing mouth is filled with coal (not clay).

Subject: RE: ADD: The Ballad Of Charlie David (Sheldon Currie)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Feb 22 - 02:29 AM

Great song! Here's another recording, with slightly different lyrics:

https://store.patrickrosemusic.co.uk/track/the-ballad-of-charlie-david

Margaret's Museum sounds like a good movie. Can you tell us a little more about the story behind the song and about Charlie David? The movie is available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lImCgg2dTz8

If you'd like to submit the melody, you can post ABC here in the thread, or you can send a MIDI to me for posting.

Here's another recording of "Charlie Dave," by Jess and Richard Arrowsmith:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCvCVpkHYbQ

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