album cover
Charlene
21
Alternative Folk
Charlene was released on February 10, 1998 by Philo as a part of the album Shaking Off Gravity
album cover
Release DateFebruary 10, 1998
LabelPhilo
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM181

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Vance Gilbert
Vance Gilbert
Vocals
Patty Larkin
Patty Larkin
Accordion
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Vance Gilbert
Vance Gilbert
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Vance Gilbert
Vance Gilbert
Producer
Vinx
Vinx
Assistant Producer
Toby Mountain
Toby Mountain
Mastering Engineer
Coleman Rogers
Coleman Rogers
Mixing Engineer

Lyrics

Charlene, Charlene
Your laugh was undeniable, Charlene
But you were unreliable
Like the weather in the fall
And when the leaves go golden
I don't think of you at all
This ain't about your laugh
Or how you'd throw your head back freely
When you gave most of you to me, Charlene
Charlene, Charlene
There's a southern contradiction
At your core
Your daddy raised tobacco
And your daddy praised the Lord
He'd take your breath away from you
Exhaling Jesus' name
The nights that he would whisper
In your ear and through your shame
Cigarettes and crucifixes all became the same
Or so it seems, Charlene
Charlene, Charlene
There's a whiskey lipstick paper cup
You never threw away
You were never one to waste
What could be used another day
You knew it was no overdose
You took just what you needed
"A job well done just once" you said
"Should never be repeated
Not for free" you said to me, Charlene
Charlene, Charlene
They couldn't find your pulse
Or self esteem
They shouted "Clear" but you had left them
Like the frantic third-place team
They left their rubber gloves
Like you were coming back to clean
That's something you would do
So you could tell your friends in heaven
How you made it on the scene, Charlene
Charlene, Charlene
Your laugh was undeniable, Charlene
But you were unreliable
Like the weather in the fall
And when the leaves go golden
I don't think of you at all
This ain't about your laugh
Or how you'd throw your head back freely
When you gave most of you to me, Charlene
Written by: Vance Gilbert
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