© Adam Granger
A Salute to an Ailing Charlie Sawtelle
CHARLIE
Texas gave us the Alamo,
George Bush and the Cotton-Eye Joe
An electric chair that's permanently aglow,
And a little kid named Charlie.
Some grew up rich; some grew up poor
Some grew up with less; some grew up with more
Some grew up to be Albert Gore
But this kid grew up Charlie
And while other kids were making the team,
Or the honor roll, or the list of the dean
The kid who was wailing on the D-18
Was the irrepressible Charlie
Many pick more notes per line
Like it's a race, and they're way behind
But none can keep such quality time
As the metronomic Charlie
And when he dons the shades, and puts on the hat
He cuts the wheat and he winnows the chaff
Who is this guy? You do the math!
You'll find it's still old Charlie
Yeah, there are many bassists who've overplayed
And wowed the crowd with fusillades
But when he slays 'em, they stay Slade
Of course, I mean old Charlie
While some are moshing and head bonkin'
Or listening to tunes that are Sri Lankan
The guy who's goin' honky-tonkin'
Is the local hero Charlie
Yeah, some drink wine, some drink latte
Some eat sushi, some eat pate
Who's the guy with the beer and the braut, eh?
It's the all-American Charlie
So as we gather in this hall to play
We give the order of the day:
Please get well, and stay that way
Cause we all love you, Charlie
CHARLIE
Texas gave us the Alamo,
George Bush and the Cotton-Eye Joe
An electric chair that's permanently aglow,
And a little kid named Charlie.
Some grew up rich; some grew up poor
Some grew up with less; some grew up with more
Some grew up to be Albert Gore
But this kid grew up Charlie
And while other kids were making the team,
Or the honor roll, or the list of the dean
The kid who was wailing on the D-18
Was the irrepressible Charlie
Many pick more notes per line
Like it's a race, and they're way behind
But none can keep such quality time
As the metronomic Charlie
And when he dons the shades, and puts on the hat
He cuts the wheat and he winnows the chaff
Who is this guy? You do the math!
You'll find it's still old Charlie
Yeah, there are many bassists who've overplayed
And wowed the crowd with fusillades
But when he slays 'em, they stay Slade
Of course, I mean old Charlie
While some are moshing and head bonkin'
Or listening to tunes that are Sri Lankan
The guy who's goin' honky-tonkin'
Is the local hero Charlie
Yeah, some drink wine, some drink latte
Some eat sushi, some eat pate
Who's the guy with the beer and the braut, eh?
It's the all-American Charlie
So as we gather in this hall to play
We give the order of the day:
Please get well, and stay that way
Cause we all love you, Charlie
