JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Good Time Charlie / My Old Friend The Blues (lyrics)

I doubt this lyric would make the cut on this forum's Lyric Board. This writer is breaking some rules here! Feeling sorry for himself, sheesh. This Danny O'Keefe guy can't write; this song will never work.

Actually, it really doesn't do anything for me today, haha. Really. I wonder how he got it cut? More than once! Has-beens like Elvis and Charlie Rich. Huh? You mean there is a market for feeling-sorry-for-myself songs?

P.S. I just remembered a song I consider a masterpiece. By one of my fave writers, Steve Earle. Now, HERE is a I'm-depressed song! (I'll post the lyric below Good Time Charlie.)

:::

GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES
(Danny O'Keefe)

Everybody's gone away
Said they're movin to L.A.
There's not a soul I know around
Everybody's leavin' town

Some caught a freight, some caught a plane
Find the sunshine, leave the rain
They said this town were a waste of time
I guess they're right, it's wasting mine

Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues

You know my heart keeps tellin' me
You're not a kid at thirty-three
Play around you'll lose your wife
You play too hard you'll lose your life

Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues

:::

MY OLD FRIEND THE BLUES
(Steve Earle)

Just when every ray of hope was gone
I should have known that you would come along
I can't believe I ever doubted you
My old friend the blues

Another lonely night, a nameless town
If sleep don't take me first, you'll come around
'Cause I know I can always count on you
My old friend the blues

[ CHORUS: ]
Lovers leave and friends will let you down
But you're the only sure thing that I've found
No matter what I do I'll never lose
My old friend the blues

Just let me hide my weary heart in you
My old friend the blues

Funny - I consider Danny O'Keefe to be one of my favorite writers. I can't say that this specific song is one of my favorites from him, but it just goes to show you - people have different opinions. That's what makes the world so interesting.

"Good Time Charlie" is one of my favorites, Duke.

But you left out one of the best parts...the final stanza.
The part that sort of confirms the posture of the song.

I've got my pills to ease the pain
Can't find a thing to ease the rain
I'd like to try and settle down
But everbody's leavin' town

You guys are missing the sarcasm.

Nice post, Duke. I agree. I thought I was alone.....

I've seen it said here a number of times that country singers do not want to sing songs that show the "narrarator" in anything less than a positive light.

As if the audience is unable to distinguish between the singer and a character in a song.....

Seems dumb in my opinion - why should we shut ourselves off from half (perhaps the more interesting half) of human nature?

I'm not slamming members here because this advice, as I recall, comes from publishers and industry professionals. And if it's true, and if you want to make it as a songwriter, perhaps it's best to follow it.

Still find it disappointing though.

Scott