REQUEST: The MTA folksong recorded by The Lettermen, et al
Kevin
Kevin
"When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and crying, like his passengers."
nancy g.
> Does anyone have the lyrics to this old tune?
> Thanks so much!
Well, that's kind of close, but it's not the Lettermen,
it's the Kingston Trio. The song is often called
"Charlie on the MTA" but its real title is just "MTA".
As is usually the case, Lyrics World had the lyrics,
as well as some additional information:
M T A
------------------
The Kingston Trio
Words and Music by Bess Hawes and Jacqueline Steiner
(peak Billboard position #15 in 1959)
(spoken) Throughout our nation's history the people of Boston have
rallied bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened.
Today, a new crisis has arisen. The Metropolitan Transit Authority,
better known as the MTA, is attempting to levy a burdensome tax
on the population in the form of a subway fare increase. Citizens,
hear me out. This could happen to you!!
Well, let me tell you of the story of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA
Well did he ever return? No, he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (what a pity)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned
Charlie handed in his dime at the Kendall Square station
And he changed for Jamaica Plain
When he got there, the conductor told him "one more nickel"
Charlie couldn't get off of that train.
But did he ever return? No, he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (poor old Charlie)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned
Now all night long Charlie rides through the station
Crying, "What will become of me?"
How can I afford to see my sister in Chelsea
Or my cousin in Roxbury?"
But did he ever return? No, he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (shame and scandal!)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned
Charlie's wife goes down to the Scollay Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window she hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin' through.
Well did he ever return? No, he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (he may ride forever)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned (pick it, Davey)
Now you citizens of Boston don't you think it's a scandal
How the people have to pay and pay
Fight the fare increase, vote for *George* O'Brian!!
Get poor Charlie off the MTA!!
Or else he'll never return; no, he'll never return
And his fate is still unlearned (just like always)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned
He's the man who never returned
He's the man who never returned
Transcribed by Robin Hood
*TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE* : from http://www.deltablues.com/
CHARLEY ON THE MTA
SOURCE: Bob Pfeffer
SOURCE'S SOURCE: Will Holt
COMMENTS:
Written by Jacqueline Berman (now Steiner) and Bess Hawes as
a campaign song for Walter A. O'Brian, the Progressive Party candidate
in Boston's mayoral election. When Will Holt recorded the number as
a pop song for Coral, the record company was astounded by a deluge
of protests from Boston because the song made a hero out of a local
"radical". The record was hastily withdrawn and a new version recorded
which eliminated O'Brian's claim to musical fame. In the later
Kingston Trio release, Walter A. was changed to George to avoid
advertising Commies on the air.
EMVEEVO
MTA
The Kingston Trio
Words and Music by Bess Hawes and Jacqueline Steiner
(peak Billboard position #15 in 1959)<solo cello>
<<SPOKEN: These are the times that try men's souls. In the course of our
nation's history the people of Boston have rallied bravely whenever the rights
of
men have been threatened. Today, a new crisis has arisen. The Metropolitan
Transit Authority, better known as the MTA, is attempting to levy a burdensome
tax
on the population in the form of a subway fare increase. Citizens, hear me
out.
This could happen to you!!>>
Well, let me tell you of the story of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTAWell did he ever return, no he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (what a pity)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of BostonHe's the man who never returned
Charlie handed in his dime at the Kendall Square station
And he changed for Jamaica Plain
When he got there, the conductor told him "one more nickel"
Charlie couldn't get off of that train.
But did he ever return, no he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (poor old Charlie)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of BostonHe's the man who never returned
Now all night long Charlie rides through the station
Crying "what will become of me?""How can I afford to see my sister in Chelsea?"
"Or my cousin in Roxbury?"But did he ever return, no he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (shame and scandal)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of BostonHe's the man who never returned
Charlie's wife goes down to the Scollay Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window she hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin' through.
Well did he ever return, no he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (he may ride forever)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned (pick it, Davey)<brief banjo interlude>
SPOKEN <oh, that hurts my fingers>
Now you citizens of Boston dontcha think it's a scandal
How the people have to pay and pay
Fight the fare increase, vote for *George* O'Brian!!
Get poor Charlie off the MTA!!Or else he'll never return, no he'll never return
And his fate is still unlearned (just like always)
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of BostonHe's the man who never returned
He's the man who never returnedHe's the man who never returned