On a street corner in Pittsburgh, PA
There?s a tough Irish boy with no dreams
But to be King for one day
And he?s schooled by the older ones
With lessons and the conduct of the streets
He?s got a mean right cross
And a devastating left hook
He likes to drink and he likes to fight
He likes poppin? pills and Du-Op
and the boulevard on a Saturday night
And he?s going no where fast
you know he?s happy just staying alive
But you can always count on Charlie
To be there if you needed him
In a courtroom on a December?s day
The judge said look here son
If you wanna play
You?re gonna have to pay
See these rules that you life by
Don?t exist in a civilized world.
So I offer you prison, or Vietnam.
You know Charlie, he?s kinda crazy
He just stood there looked at me,
Looked at the judge, straight in the eyes
Said I?d love to fight your honor
And you know I?ve got nothing to lose
So send me off to war, I don?t mind.
He spent two years
Learning weapons of death
And a year in the jungle
Like an animal where it's kill or be killed
And the right amount of heroin
Really seems the quiet the bombs
Back in Pittsburgh, things are rather calm
Now Charlie, he is my friend
Taught me how to hold my head up
Told me soon that I?d be a man
Says that Agent Orange is calling
And the doctors have done all they can
Well Charlie, I?m gonna miss you
after you?re gone
Well Charlie, I?m gonna miss you
after you?re gone
Well Charlie, I?m gonna miss you
after you?re gone