Well they say as a child, Charlie's mother would cry
His father would beat him by the shed outside
And no one would listen and no one came by
He grew to be older and swallow his pride
When he first left his home he was only sixteen
He followed his heart or he followed his dream
But it all fell apart, or it split at the seam
He grew to be older and he grew to be mean
Charlie would say it don't matter that much
A slap on the face like a want and a touch
Sometimes that temper can act as a crutch
Better watch your step, Chuck
She was a froline, a young tourist
She was the swan who started all this
There were sailors and mad men and they were all pissed
The blood started flowing over one reckless kiss
Well, the authorities came with a howl of the hounds
They emptied their guns but they paid for their rounds
And they took poor Charlie to the center of town
Where they strung him up just to knock him back down
Charlie would say it don't matter that much
A slap on the face like a want and a touch
Sometimes that temper can act as a crutch
Better watch your step, Chuck
Well, the judge, he was mean and he drew a deep breath
He sentenced poor Charlie to a quick hanging death
But little did he know that the rope would soon break
A sign that his life, well a court couldn't take
Capital punishment fits like a glove
But a sentence like that only comes from above
When you're raised as a child with a kick and a shove
It's sad that a man has to die without love
Charlie would say it don't matter that much
A slap on the face like a want and a touch
Sometimes that temper can act as a crutch
Better watch your step, Chuck