Lyr Add: Charlie Brooks

Subject: Lyr Add:Charlie Brooks
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 09:11 PM

Lyr. Add: CHARLIE BROOKS

Miss Adair, since I left the city
I find I've changed my mind,
Hope you won't think me fickle
Nor deem me the least unkind.
I know we was both mistaken,
I know I never loved thee,
And now my heart is another's,
And I hope, my friend, we agree.
Please send me my ring and letters,
Also my picture and books,
And remember me ever and ever
As a true friend, Charley Brooks.

I received your letter, dear Charley,
The last you wrote to me,
And I've read it over and over,
And of course, my friend, we agree.
So here are your letters dear Charley,
I burnt mine when they came,
And, I hope after reading yours
You'll commit them to the flames.
For you do not need them, dear Charley,
To remind you of words untrue,
But as you require them of me,
I'll send them at once to you.

And here is your ring, dear Charley,
Don't let her wear it, I pray,
Unless you tell her 'twas mine once
And I've had it a year today.
A bright and happy one to us both,
You swore you'd never forsake me,
I've found you untrue to your oath.
And here is a bunch of violets
That once was so curly and blue,
You gave them to me as an emblem,
And now I'll return them to you.

And here is your picture, dear Charley,
It's almost faded away,
Because I have kissed it so often
And this you may tell Miss Gray.
So I'll say goodbye forever,
And bring my letter to an end,
Remember me always, dear Charley,
Respectfully as a friend.

Sung by Mrs. Eva Shockley, Missouri, 1928. From Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, # 735, with music, pp. 210-213; a second version called "Ella Dare," collected 1940.
There are four versions in Max Hunter and two in the Wolf Collection, one sung by Almeda Riddle.

In thread 20251, Jim Dixon, 10 Apr 00, posted an A. P. Carter version called "Charlie and Nellie." Charlie and Nellie
At The Record Lady, Real Country p.17, there is a recording by Mother Maybelle Carter with the title "Charlie Brooks;" there is some re-arrangement of verses and a few words are changed: Record Lady

All of the versions are similar, although several different titles have been affixed. This suggests that sheet music probably exists, or there was a magazine original, but I haven't yet looked for it in Levy and other collections.
Vernon Dalhart recorded it as "Nellie Dare and Charlie Brooks" (Victor 20058 and Brunswick 143); Randolph also lists a recording by Elzie Floyd and Leo Boswell.