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Charlemagne Lyrics by John Cale

Vintage Violence

1970

[Verse 1]
The manager is waiting to be paid
Along with priests and deacons of his court
A quartermaster, quite a mess, a mistress of the line
Has found a last cent avenue of pain

[Verse 2]
Mardi Gras just passed this way a while ago
Making hungry people of us all
Along the Mississippi you can hear the fiddlers play
Fandangos and boleros to the Lord

[Chorus]
Many trials, many tried
Simple stories are the best
Keep in mind, the wishful kind
Don't want to be like all the rest

[Verse 3]
My uncle was a vicar in the big parade
Selling fountain pens that never write
San Sebastian gamblers never cheat nor lie
They know good fences make good neighbours

[Bridge]
I wish I knew what time of year it was
What kind of people will be there
When gruesome tales of two cities ran
Running all the way

[Verse 4]
Father might have heard his prayers were answered
Inhibitions all the way from home
Consider now, consider that before the deed is done
The blood of consolation runs so true

[Chorus]
Many times, many tried
Simple stories are the best
Keep in mind, the wishful kind
Don't wanna be like all the rest
Credits

About “Charlemagne” by John Cale

Read the complete lyrics to "Charlemagne" by John Cale from the album "Vintage Violence" in 1970. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock, Art Rock, Folk Rock.

"Charlemagne" is performed by John Cale. from the album "Vintage Violence" in 1970 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Charlemagne", explore more songs by John Cale using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Charlemagne" is credited to John Cale. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Charlemagne" appears on "Vintage Violence" in 1970.

Visit the John Cale artist page at /artist/john-cale for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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