Art & Culture

Charlie Dunn

by Jerry Jeff Walker

Well…if you’re ever in Austin, Texas, a little run down on your sole.
I’m going to tell you the name of a man to see,
I’m going to tell you right where to go.
He’s working in Capital Saddlery. He’s sewing in the back of the place.
He’s old Charlie Dunn, the little frail one with the smilin’ leathery face.

Charlie Dunn, he’s the one to see.
Charlie Dunn boots that are on my feet
It makes Charlie real pleased to see me walkin’ with ease…
Charlie Dunn, he’s the one to see.

Well…Charlie’s been making boots over there,
he says about 50 some odd years.
Once you wear a pair of handmade boots,
you’ll never wear a store-bought pair.
Charlie can tell what’s wrong with your feet, just a feelin’ them with his hands.
He can take a look at the boots your wearin’
…and know a whole lot about the man.

Charlie Dunn, he’s the one to see.
Charlie Dunn boots that are on my feet
It makes Charlie real pleased to see me walkin’ with ease…
Charlie Dunn, he’s the one to see.

Now Buck’s up front he’s accountin’ up his gold.
Charlie’s in the back patchin’ up a sole.
There are other people coming in smilin’ at him,
…they all wonder how’s old Charlie’s been.
Old Buck’s a makin’ change, he never sees no one.
He never understood the good things Charlie done.

Yeah, old Charlie never had his name on the sign.
He never put a mark in a boot.
He just hopes that you can remember him the same way that he does you.
He keeps your measurements in this little book,
…so you can order more boots later on.
Well, I’m writin’ down some on Charlie’s size, ’cause I’m makin’ him a song.

Charlie Dunn, he’s the one to see.
Charlie Dunn boots that are on my feet
It makes Charlie real pleased to see me walkin’ with ease…
Charlie Dunn, he’s the one to see.

Yeah, old Bucks a makin’ change, never sees no one
…and he never understood the good thing Charlie done.

Rumor has it…it was this song, that inspired Lee Miller to make boots. Lee Miller came to Austin, Texas to apprentice for Charlie Dunn when his shop first opened, in 1977. Charlie taught Lee his own way of making boots, including the secret-how-to’s of shop specialties, like interlaced monograms and mirror lettering. Lee and his wife Carrlyn bought the shop in 1986, and have since carried on Chalie Dunn’s work at Texas Traditions. Charlie Dunn’s friends sang this song at his funeral, in 1993….Lee Miller says, “Charlie loved that song.”

Links

© Jerry Jeff Walker, 1972.