The Ring From My Hand (The Black Velvet Band, Traditional)

For a couple of seasons, one of the most enduring mysteries on LOST for me has been, "What will happen to Charlie's DS ring?" Ever since I found out that it was a precious family heirloom, I've been hoping that Liam would somehow end up with it, or at least someone would. The season finale opened a door, so here's hopin'! Here's a parody to the tune of the Irish Rovers' version of The Black Velvet Band.

The Ring From My Hand

His skills, they always surpassed mine.
He was clearly the king of the band.
But I wish the ring that I gave him
Was still sitting safe on my hand.

In a neat little town called Manchester,
We worked out our signature sound,
And many a musical masterpiece
We wrote in that neat little town
Till drug addiction oppressed me
And messed up the life I had planned.
I was sure he'd resist that temptation, so
I slipped him the ring from my hand.

His skills, they always surpassed mine.
He was clearly the king of the band.
But I wish the ring that I gave him
Was still sitting safe on my hand.

Well, we were in Finland one Christmas,
And Charlie was havin' a blast.
He had picked up a couple of groupies,
But I figured those flings wouldn't last.
Yeah, I knew he wanted a family;
Through him, the Pace line would expand.
It seemed fitting to give him the heirloom
That once sat on Great-granddad's hand.

His skills, they always surpassed mine.
He was clearly the king of the band.
But I wish the ring that I gave him
Was still sitting safe on my hand.

One morning, I woke up a father.
I hadn't seen Megan arrive.
It was just the reason I needed
To clean up my act and survive.
I felt I had run out of options;
I hoped Charlie might understand.
When I sold off his precious piano,
I left him the ring on his hand.

His skills, they always surpassed mine.
He was clearly the king of the band.
But I wish the ring that I gave him
Was still sitting safe on my hand.

Since Charlie was always my refuge,
A prince of a brother to me,
It appeared that the ring that provided our name
Was where it was destined to be.
But when Charlie crashed into the ocean,
Mum's legacy sank to the sand,
So I feel like I lost her again that day
And cringe at my unadorned hand.

His skills, they always surpassed mine.
He was clearly the king of the band.
But I wish the ring that I gave him
Was still sitting safe on my hand.

His skills, they always surpassed mine.
He was clearly the king of the band.
Yes, I wish the ring that I gave him
Was still sitting safe on my hand.

She Wore the Ring He Left Her (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Traditional)

For my 50th LOST-related poem, yet another one about Charlie, this time to the tune of She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Maybe this will get it out of my system...

She Wore The Ring He Left Her

'Round her neck, she wore the ring he left her,
An heirloom decorated with a "DS" on its face.
And if you asked her why the heck she wore it,
She'd tell you that she wore it to recall Charlie Pace.

Charlie Pace, Charlie Pace.
She wore it to remember Charlie Pace.
'Round her neck, she wore the ring he left her.
She'd tell you that she wore it to recall Charlie Pace.

Lavishly, she gobbled peanut butter.
She kept a dozen jars inside the cupboard just in case.
And if you asked her why the heck she ate it,
She'd tell you that she ate it to recall Charlie Pace.

Charlie Pace, Charlie Pace.
She ate it to remember Charlie Pace.
Lavishly, she gobbled peanut butter.
She'd tell you that she ate it to recall Charlie Pace.

Liam, Claire and Aaron got together.
He realized his brother hadn't left without a trace.
And if you asked him why the heck he met them,
He'd tell you that he met them to recall Charlie Pace.

Charlie Pace, Charlie Pace.
He met them to remember Charlie Pace.
Liam, Claire and Aaron got together.
He'd tell you that he met them to recall Charlie Pace.

Driveshaft soon released a stunning single
Once written by the partner Liam never could replace.
And if you asked him why the heck he made it,
He'd tell you that he made it to recall Charlie Pace.

Charlie Pace, Charlie Pace.
He made it to remember Charlie Pace.
Driveshaft soon released a stunning single.
He'd tell you that he made it to recall Charlie Pace.

Growing Aaron plucked upon guitar strings.
The instrument was awkward but he fingered it with grace.
And if you asked him why the heck he played it,
He'd tell you that he played it to recall Charlie Pace.

Charlie Pace, Charlie Pace.
He played it to remember Charlie Pace.
Growing Aaron plucked upon guitar strings.
He'd tell you that he played it to recall Charlie Pace.

Baby Brother

Though he's only actually appeared in three episodes of LOST, I feel like viewers have come to know Liam, older brother of Charlie Pace, fairly well. My feelings toward him are very mixed, since for the most part he seems to have contributed mightily to the downfall of Driveshaft and Charlie's own devastating heroin addiction. Yet there is definite evidence of fraternal affection from his end, particularly when he gives Charlie their mother's ring, ironically believing that it will be safer with him. While Liam's sudden determination to clean up his act, inspired by a desire to be a good father and husband, is admirable, in order to achieve his goal he abandons Charlie, who has always been there for him in times of crisis. So I imagine Liam has been feeling pretty guilty since the crash of Flight 815. Here's a little poem chronicling his contrition.

Baby Brother

I'm sorry, baby brother.
I drifted from your side,
Denied how much I owed you. I was wrong.
I'm sorry, baby brother.
You followed where I led,
To dead-end drugs that stripped the joy from song.

I'm sorry, baby brother.
I know you were the band.
You handed me a fortune, and such fame!
I'm sorry, baby brother.
The noble dream you chased
Was wasted on this Pace who shamed our name.

I'm sorry, baby brother.
I made you take Mum's ring,
The thing we treasured most, and now it's lost.
I'm sorry, baby brother.
Refusing your request
Seemed best. I hadn't counted on the cost.

I'm sorry, baby brother.
Though you were just a whelp,
You helped me after every ugly fall.
I'm sorry, baby brother.
I left you with my mess.
I guess I was the baby after all.