Charley On The Mta lyrics

COMMENTS: Written by Jacqueline Berman (now Steiner) and
Bess Hawes as a campaign song for Walter F. O`Brian, the
Communist 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The record was hastily withdrawn an a new version recorded which
eliminated O`Brien`s claim to musical fame. In the later
Kingston Trio release, Walter F. was changed to George to avoid
advertising Commies on the air.



Let me tell you the story of a man named Charley
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA

CHORUS: Did he ever return? No, he never returned,
And his fate is still unlearn`d.
He may ride forever `neath the streets of Boston
He`s the man who never returned.

Charley 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.`
Charley could not get off that train.

Now all night long Charley rides through the tunnels
Saying, `What will become of me?
How can I afford to see my sister in Chelsea
Or my cousin in Roxbury?`

Charley`s wife goes down to the Scollay Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window she hands Charley a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin` through.

Now you citizens of Boston, don`t you think it`s a scandal
That the people have to pay and pay
Vote for George O`Brien and fight the fare increase
Get poor Charley off the MTA

CHORUS: Or else he`ll never return, no he`ll never return
And his fate will be unlearned.
He may ride forever `neath the streets of Boston.
He`s the man (Who`s the man) He`s the man (Oh, the man)
He`s the man who never returned
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