Champagne Charlie (song)

Chorus

For Champagne Charlie is my name, Champagne Charlie is my name
Good for any game at night, my boys, good for any game at night, my boys,
Champagne Charlie is my name, Champagne Charlie is my name
Good for any game at night, boys, who’ll come and join me in a spree

Champagne Charlie is a Victorian music hall song written by George Leybourne and set to music by Alfred Lee. Written and premiered by Leybourne in 1866, it became popular over the next few months and made him famous. The lyrics revolve around the lifestyle of the Champagne drinking "toff" or "swell" partying all night, of which Leybourne could also be seen as the stereotype. As the lyrics actually mention vintage Moet champagne, this could be viewed as the forerunner of (or even the first ever) advertisement jingle. The success of the song led to his rival Alfred Vance singing a number called Clicquot (presumably in support of the champagne house of that name) lending more credence to the advertising song viewpoint. But not all is drink, idleness and conspicuous consumption; the music of the song was adapted by the Salvation Army for their song "Bless His Name He Sets Me Free".