Eighteen years in the Tennessee sun
Grew up fishing on the Cumberland
Little Joe, the youngest son
Slung a slingshot and a squirrel gun
Daddy ran ‘shine ‘neath the moonlight
Bowling Green to them Nashville nights
Little Joe learned riding shotgun
To keep your mouth shut till the job is done
Sixty-seven rolled around
Joe got the call and he headed on out
Across the ocean for the Vietnam
Gonna hit the coast running … gonna be a man
Jackie D meet Mary J
You're gonna do just what I say
Grab your gun and roll on out
Your first ramble gonna scream and shout
So tie a ribbon round the old oak tree
Tell my momma don't worry ‘bout me
The weather's warm around Christmas time
I've got an M-16 and my boots are dry
I'm sitting up here like a cat in a tree
Waiting for Charlie, gonna set him free
Uncle Sam said I'm the man
Goodbye Charlie
Bengals on the ground, snakes in the trees
Tet comes a’gunning he don't know about me
Johnny's in the front Charlie's in the back
Tree comes a’crashing six days in the black
Open your eyes now Joe's done his time
Come back alive but he done left his mind
Uncle Sam said, "Son thank you,
Lay down your guns ‘cause we’re through with you."
Now I see the ribbon round the old oak tree
I told my momma don't worry ‘bout me
The weather's warm around Christmas time
I've got an M-16 and my boots are dry
I'm sitting up here like a cat in a tree
Waiting for Charlie, gonna set him free
Uncle Sam said I'm the man
Goodbye Charlie
credits
from Runaway Freeway Blues,
released March 26, 2013
Vocals and Acoustic Guitar: Cruz Contreras
Harmony Vocals: Trisha Gene Brady
Pedal Steel: Tom Pryor
Bass: Robert Richards
Drums and Harmony Vocals: Jamie Cook
supported by 6 fans who also own “Goodbye Charlie”
This is a wonderful album. It is personal, senitive, and caring. I love to here Sturgill sing, and wish had found him earlier. I thsnk wnku for playing local artists. I lived in Jackson Ky. And know how sad the drugs have made so many hometowns. Keep singing you are great. carolfaulkner
The latest from Jim Lauderdale is exclusive to Bandcamp, its songs drawing on bluegrass, country, and classic American music. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 28, 2020
Sturgill Simpson's first bluegrass album, what he calls "a mixtape for the fans," was created after his recovery from Covid-19. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 16, 2020