Charlie Is My Darling (song) facts for kids
Charlie Is My Darling is the title of several traditional Scottish songs. These popular songs have been around for a long time. They tell stories and share feelings from different times in history.
The first version of "Charlie Is My Darling" is thought to be by James Hogg or Carolina Oliphant (Lady Nairne). It starts with the line Twas on a Monday morning, right early in the year. This song celebrates the Jacobite movement. The Jacobites were people who supported the return of the Stuart kings to the Scottish and English thrones.
Another song with the same name was written later by Charles Gray. However, the most famous version was created by the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, in 1794. His version is a bit more lively than the older, more serious ones. The singer Eddi Reader recorded a popular version of Burns' song on her highly praised CD of Burns' songs.
The famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven also created his own musical arrangement of "Charlie Is My Darling" in 1819. It was part of his collection of 12 songs from different countries.
During the American Civil War, the song was changed to 'Johny is my Darling'. It was a new version of the original "Charlie Is My Darling".
Contents
Modern Uses of the Song
The tune and lyrics of "Charlie Is My Darling" have been used in many modern ways.
Music and Comedy Adaptations
The composer Roger Quilter created a musical setting of Robert Burns' version of the song. This was included in the Arnold Book of Old Songs, which was published in 1950.
The comedy group Flying Pig Productions also made a funny version of the song. They used it on their BBC Radio Scotland show Desperate Fishwives. They changed the title to "Darling is a Charlie". This was a humorous reference to the challenges faced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, around 2008–2010.
In Movies and TV Shows
A funny version of the song appears in the "Charlie X" episode of the classic TV show Star Trek. In this episode, Lt. Uhura sings a special version. The words were changed to fit the story of the episode. Mr. Spock plays along with her on his Vulcan lyre.
The title "Charlie Is My Darling" was also used by the famous rock band Rolling Stones. They named their 1966 documentary film Charlie Is My Darling.
The composer Dimitri Tiomkin changed the lyrics to this song for the 1950 movie "Dakota Lil". It was given a jazz style. The singer Anita Ellis sang the song for actress Marie Windsor, who played the main character.
In Games and Other Media
The song is also featured in the educational computer game The Oregon Trail. It plays at Soda Springs. In the game, each important location has its own special song.
The tune of "Charlie Is My Darling" has also been used to introduce the actor Charles Hawtrey. This happens when he enters a scene in the movie Carry On Camping.
