Here's a part of the play that everybody always enjoys.
Everywhere I go, people like this, and we decided to record it.
It's a tribute that we play to none other than Charlie Pratt.
Here's a young man who lives out in Dallas, Texas right now, but he didn't always.
Young Charlie was born down in Sledge, Mississippi.
I don't know exactly when he was born, but it is a fact that he was born.
I found that out through scientific research.
In other words, I looked up some advanced courses of African history,
and I found that, that Charlie was born in Sledge, Mississippi.
Now,
Charlie met a young lady.
If you notice, he's always sang mostly sad songs.
And there's a reason for Charlie singing those sad songs.
Now, I don't have the actual facts,
but I'll put it together in my mind by listening to all of Charlie's records.
This is the way that I believe it happened.
Now,
Charlie was popular,
in my mind,
behind the gin house in Sledge,
in a 1949 Ford pickup.
In the seat with him was a young woman who admired him very much,
and her name was Josephine.
And she looked at Charlie and said,
Charlie,
baby, I'm gonna want you.
I'm gonna want you.
Now, if Charlie had been like some of us,
he would have said, I'm gonna want you too.
And he'd say, like he'd say sometimes,
he'd have been there to take advantage.
But this is not what Charlie did.
To show you what kind of nice guy Charlie is,
this is what Charlie said to the young lady.
Before you take another step,
there's something you should know
about the years ahead
and how they'll be.
You'll be living in the past,
in a world
where roses never grow.
Cause all I have to offer you is Charlie.
There'll be no ancient palm to tip,
no crystal chandelier,
and there'll be no pine tree,


and no fancy clothes for you to wear.
And darling, all Charlie has is standing here
in front of you to see.
Cause all I have to offer you is old Charlie.
Now, friends, it didn't take her long
to get all sweet Charles had to offer.
In a couple of years, she had his house.
She had his car.
She took the rug off the floor
and the telephone out the wall,
and the boy couldn't even call the police.
The next time we heard from Charlie,
he was on Route 66,
about 20 miles outside of some city,
probably in Texas.
Because this is what the young man was singing
that moment.
Rain drippin' off the brim of my hat
It sure is cold today
Here I am walkin' down 66
I wish she hadn't done me that way
Sleepin' under a table in a roadside park
A man could come up dead
It sure seems warmer than it did
Home in my king-size bed
Then he said,
Is anybody goin' to San Antonio
Or Phoenix, Arizona
Anywhere is all right as long as I can forget.
I've never known her.
Then he pointed to the truck driver.
He said, Hey, truck driver, look over there.
And the truck driver turned around and said,
What did you see, man?
And he pointed again.
Charlie said, This is what he said.
Beyond comes a truck with a U.S. mail
Of people writin' letters back home
Tomorrow she'll probably want me back
But Charlie will be just as gone
Hey, buddy, tell me are you goin'
To San Antonio or Phoenix, Arizona
Anywhere is fine as long as I can forget
I've never known her.
Charlie made it out to L.A.
And he got him a job
Workin' for one of the Hollywood producers
The producer told him,
Charlie, you're a fine fella
And I think you're most likely to succeed
If you just keep on workin' here.
And you're not even looking at it.
One fella came up to Charlie one day
And said, Charlie, you know,
I think you're a fine guy
And you always worry
I know what happened to you
You and your woman
But you oughta forget about it, man
Either forget about it
Or go and get her
And jump on her
Beat her up
But do somethin'
You know, revenge, man
Sweet revenge
Charlie looked at him and said,
Man, listen, I can't beat my woman up
I know she did me wrong
But I still love her
And I have a good heart in me
And I don't wanna hurt anybody
He said, instead of hurtin' her
Or hittin' her with somethin'
Or shootin' at her or somethin'
This is what I'm gonna do
Tomorrow
I'll say happy
Birthday, darlin'
And surprise you with a gift
When I come home
Then my forgetful arm
Will reach out for you
I can't forget you
Just because you're gone
I can't believe it
That you stopped lovin' Charlie
It's too much
For me to understand
How can anything
So real become a dream
I can't believe
That you stopped lovin' me
And then one day
She finally caught up with Charlie
She walked up to him and she said,
Charlie, I wonder if you'll take me back
And give me one more chance
She says, I've found out
Since you've been gone
That everything out here in the street
That shines ain't gold
And I've had enough of this
Runnin' around out here
And I've been missin' you, Charlie
He said he'd give him a chance
She said, Charlie
I'll straighten up
Get a job
Help you out with the children
And I guarantee you
I know how to appreciate you now
If you'll just come back home
Now I thought Charlie was gonna give up
And fall down on his knees
Give in to him
But this is what he did
He made me feel real proud
That morning
When he looked at her
And this is what he said
Sometimes I want
To throw my arms around you
But I tremble
At the thought
Of giving in
Because I know
How much it costs
To love you
And I'm so afraid
Of losing you again
Being close to you
Revives the sorrow
That wakes me up
And tells me
I can't wait
I'd love to wake
Up in your arms tomorrow
But I'm so afraid
Of losing you again
Again
You know
Charlie finally made his way
On down to Houston
He left California
Because he figured
She was gonna bother him
As long as he was there
So he came back to Houston
And he was standing up there
By the Astrodome
One night
Had his head dropped down
Big old sister walked up to him
She was just about as big
As the Astrodome
She walked up to him
and she said charlie you've always sang such a sad song so i wonder why are you always so sad
she said i don't like to see you that way charlie why don't you come on and go home with big mama
well friends big mama took him home i don't know exactly what she had but whatever she had it was
old charlie's formula i guarantee you because the next morning old charlie had changed his key
and he was really the happiest man in the whole usa
this is the way charlie sound the next morning after his visit with big mama
if
ever a chance to meet some old friends on the street they wonder how does a charlie get to be
this away i've always got a smiling face anytime in any place and anytime they ask me why i just
smile and say you've got to
you've got to


kiss an angel good morning let her know you think about her when you're gone
kiss an angel good morning and love her like the devil when you get back home
some people might try to get the secret of a happiness but some of them never turn it's a
simple thing
the secret i'm speaking of is a woman and a man in love and the answer is in this song charlie always
saying you've got to kiss an angel good morning and let her know you think about her when you're
gone kiss an angel good morning and love her like the devil when you get back home

like the devil when you get back home come on
kiss an angel good morning let her know you think about her when you're gone
kiss an angel good morning and really let her have it when you get back home
thank you thank you
thank you
applause
applause
applause
if you will a big hand for mr ob mcclinton one more time
if you will a big hand for mr ob mcclinton one more time
you make me feel so good