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# transcription of the lyrics in will holt's unedited recording of M.T.A.

this is a song of protest
from boston
it is about the mta, which is a subway system in that city
the fact that they raised the price of a transfer to five cents
this caused social upheaval in boston
civil disobedience
and this revolutionary song which i'd like to sing with its original fire and vigor and fervor

let me tell you 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.

[chorus]
but did he ever return? no, he never returned
and his fate is still unlearned
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 that train.

[chorus]

now all night long charlie rides through the tunnel
saying, "what will become of me?
how can i afford to see my sister in chelsea
or my cousin in roxbury?"

[chorus]

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 rumbling through.

[chorus]

now, you citizens of boston, don't you think it's a scandal
that the people have to pay and pay?
vote for walter j o'brien, fight the fare increase
get charlie off the mta!

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

[edited version just cuts the "vote for walter j o'brien" part]