Their debut single on Virgin Records in Feb' 1987, "Mary's Prayer", failed to make an impression, although it did chart in the US before hitting the UK Top 50 in August and then No. 3 the following March. The song was later featured in the movie "Something About Mary"
The debut album "Meet Danny Wilson" was full of promise with the band's clean-cut image fitting perfectly in the late-80's trend for slick.
Their follow-up album, "Bebop Moptop", however, failed to make much impression, though the fine single "The Second Summer Of Love" did go Top 30.
There was also a subsequent "Greatest Hits" album released after the band split in 1990.
Charlie Boy
Danny Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
when you wake up in the middle of the night
do you get down on your knees and pray
to a god, you never believe in
that I'm all right
'Cause I do Charlie
why don't you, call me
why don't you score me
a letter and set me free
Forgive me when I say
I did my best in every way
to understand you
believe me when I say
I did my best in every way
to make you strong
Charlie boy
It wasn't ever easy
to be sodom and gomorrah all around
ooh ooh
it wasn't ever easy
to say sorry or admit when I was wrong
But pull on his heart Charlie
why don't you call me
tell me Charlie
why don't you score me
a letter and set me free
set me free
Charlie boy, when you can lock me away
in a room for a million years
Charlie boy, then could I see you Charlie
tell me
Charlies boy, when you can lock me up or down
in my own tears
but loving
Free me Charlie
(when you can lock me away
in a room for a million years)
why don't you call me
(when can I see you Charlie)
tell me Charlie
(when you can lock me up a)
why don't you score me
a letter and free me
Charlie, why don't you call me
tell me Charlie
why don't you score me
a letter and free me
Charlie
The lyrics to Danny Wilson's "Charlie Boy" speak to a strained relationship between two people, presumably close friends or former lovers. The singer expresses concern for Charlie, wondering if he also feels the same sense of unease and fear in the dark of night. The singer longs for communication and a sense of closure, urging Charlie to reach out and write him a letter, setting him free from the tension and distance of their current relationship. At the same time, the singer acknowledges his own effort to understand Charlie and support him as best he could, even if it was ultimately not enough.
Line by Line Meaning
Charlie do you shiver
when you wake up in the middle of the night
do you get down on your knees and pray
to a god, you never believe in
that I'm all right
Danny is asking if Charlie is concerned about him in the middle of the night, and if he prays for him to be safe even if he doesn't believe in God
'Cause I do Charlie
why don't you, call me
tell me Charlie
why don't you score me
a letter and set me free
Danny is saying that he worries about Charlie as well, and he wants him to contact him by letter
Forgive me when I say
I did my best in every way
to understand you
believe me when I say
I did my best in every way
to make you strong
Danny is apologizing for any wrongs he may have committed, and stating that he tried his best to understand and support Charlie
Charlie boy
Charlie is being addressed affectionately
It wasn't ever easy
to be sodom and gomorrah all around
ooh ooh
it wasn't ever easy
to say sorry or admit when I was wrong
Danny is admitting that it was hard to live in an immoral world and to apologize or admit fault
But pull on his heart Charlie
why don't you call me
tell me Charlie
why don't you score me
a letter and set me free
Danny urges Charlie to reach out to him and release him from whatever has been holding them apart
set me free
Danny desires to be free from his current situation
Charlie boy, when you can lock me away
in a room for a million years
Charlie boy, then could I see you Charlie
tell me
Charlies boy, when you can lock me up or down
in my own tears
but loving
Danny is saying that he will love Charlie even if he were to be locked away for an eternity in isolation or heartbreak
Free me Charlie
(when you can lock me away
in a room for a million years)
why don't you call me
(when can I see you Charlie)
tell me Charlie
(when you can lock me up a)
why don't you score me
a letter and free me
Charlie, why don't you call me
tell me Charlie
why don't you score me
a letter and free me
Charlie
Danny repeats his plea to Charlie to reach out to him and set him free, emphasizing the importance of communication to their relationship
Contributed by Kylie S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.