Charlene Songtext
von Carl Perkins

We used to have a little carnival that came to our town
The kids would ride the rides and the old cats down around
Down around the corner where the preacher would never go
You′d always find a rockin', rockin′ hoochie coochie show
From up front at the bingo game you'd hear 'em holler loud
Down around the corner′s where you′d always find a crowd

Oh, they always had this cat with a microphone loud
He'd say, "Y′all all jump right up here and get amongst this crowd"
Out would step a gal or two a-dancin' to a song
With what would thrill the boys and those they had very little on
Lipstick smeared from ear to ear, eyelashes fallin′ down
Charlene won the heart away from me in my hometown

Charlene (Charlene)
She's a dancin′ thing
She's the star of the show
Charlene (Charlene)
She's a dancin′ thing
Now honey, you can go, go, go


Well now, I gave the cat my dollar, I walked in and I sat down
And seated right beside me was the mayor of the town
The sheriff lookin′ nervous, the D.A. tried to hide
Then the curtain opened and old Charlene stepped outside
She had more moves than a rattlesnake just before he strikes
Charlene won the heart away from me right there that night

Charlene (Charlene)
She's a dancin′ thing
She's the star of the show
Charlene (Charlene)
She′s a movin' machine
Now honey, you can go, go, go

Now when the thing was over I got up and went backstage
My heart was beatin′ fast and my soul was in a rage
I said, "I sure do like the way you look and the way you move"
She said, "Thank you, country boy, I kinda like you too"
The next day we got married, but wouldn't all y'all know
Charlene up and ran away with the hoochie coochie show

Charlene (Charlene)
She′s a dancin′ thing
She's the star of the show
Charlene (Charlene)
She′s a dancin' thing
Now honey, why did you go?


I often wondered whatever happened to old Charlene
You know, I really should have known I′d never keep her on the farm
Not after she'd tasted the stage
I wonder, would she turn around and come back if I called her?
I′m gonna try

Charlene (Charlene)
Come back home
Charlene (Charlene)
Don't you leave me alone

Charlene (Charlene)
Oh, whoa, Charlene (Charlene)
Won't you hear what I say?
Charlene (Charlene)

Please, Charlene (Charlene)
Whoa, Charlene (Charlene)
Don′t be so bad
Charlene (Charlene)
Baby, all I have

Charlene (Charlene)
I′m hurt to the bone
Charlene (Charlene)
Come back home