Ben Carroll: Listen To Music
4. Charlene
(Real Thing, 2007)
I work all day for minimum wage
Things are hard for me at this stage
I have three sons, my grandfather's gun
The simple will to turn my page
Then there's Charlene, she cooks and she cleans
She's most all what a woman should be
She knows her place and covers her face
When so it goes she had to be beat
Charlene come dance with me
By the old stove fire in our house
Charlene am I so mean
To make a name for us in this town
Turn it around, could you do better
When she's not home the damage is done
This is my pride that I have won
It's not a game, her flesh to the flame
She sneaks around, she rues the day
I keep her around because she needs me
She makes me happy when she holds my child
I keep her around because she's sorry
To disrespect me for a little while
One day she's gone and never comes home
She and my boys are on the run
Now what to do, oh man, wouldn't you
Five bodies down at the Baltimore zoo
Charlene come dance with me
By the old stove fire in our house
Charlene am I so mean
To make a name for us in this town
Turn it around, could you do better
Turn it around, could you do better