About The Song
“Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues” is a song written and performed by American folk singer Danny O’Keefe.
It was first recorded by O’Keefe in 1967, but not released. It was recorded by The Bards and released in 1968 as the b-side to the song “Tunesmith” on Parrot Records. The Bards were a band from Moses Lake, Washington, United States. The song was recorded by O’Keefe for his self-titled debut album in 1971.The following year he re-recorded it (with a slower, more downbeat arrangement) for his second album, O’Keefe. The second version was issued as a single, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, number 5 on the adult contemporary chart, and number 63 on the country chart. The song was also recorded by Mel Tormé, especially for a 1986 episode of NBC’s Night Court entitled “Leon, We Hardly Knew Ye”.
It was recorded by numerous artists. A recording by Leon Russell peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1984.
Video
Lyrics
Everybody’s goin’ away
Said they’re movin’ to LA
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’s a waste of time
I guess they’re right, it’s wastin’ mine
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie’s got the blues
Good time Charlie’s got the blues
Ya know my heart keeps tellin’ me
“You’re not a kid at thirty-three”
“Ya play around, ya lose your wife”
“Ya play too long, you lose your life”
I got my pills to ease the pain
Can’t find a thing to ease the rain
I’d love to try and settle down
But everybody’s leavin’ town
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
(whistling to end)