Sheldon Currie 1964
Currie wrote the song while homesick, and then based the 1976 short story “The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum” on it, which was adapted into the film “Margaret’s Museum”.
Jess & Rich Arrowsmith: The Ballad of Charlie David
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boUmfEuD7XA
My brother was a miner, his name was Charlie Dave, He spent his young life laughing, and digging out his grave. Chorus Oh Charlie David he was big, and Charlie Dave was strong, And Charlie Dave was two feet wide, and almost six feet long. When Charlie David was sixteen, he learned to chew and spit, He went one day with Grandpa, and went to work in the pit.ÿ When Charlie David was sixteen, he met his Maggie June, On day shift weeks they met at eight, on back shift weeks at noon. When Charlie David was sixteen, he said to June “Let’s wed” Maggie June was so surprised, she fell right out of bed. When Charlie David was sixteen, June had a little boy, Maggie June was not surprised, and Charlie jumped for joy. When Charlie David was sixteen, the roof fell on his head, His laughing mouth was filled with clay, now Charlie David is dead.