Sarah Rothschild North Shore Realtor

Poor Charlie on the mta

12/29/2025

This week I was looking through a drawer and came across this old Boston MTA transit token. I honestly had to Google Image it because I didn't remember which city it was from.

Besides reminding me of past happy visits to Boston, this token reminded me of poor Charlie.

If you know what a transit token is, you are probably old enough like me to remember the Kingston Trio singing the song "Charlie and the MTA".

For those who may not know the song, it is about a guy named Charlie who was riding on Boston's MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) but the fares rose while he was riding. He didn't have any extra cash on him so he could never get off the train. His wife would meet him daily as the train passed and she would hand him a sandwich. Poor Charlie could never get off the MTA. Absurd but a catchy tune that did great on the charts.

I heard this song when I was a little kid and, I am not too proud to admit....scared the shit out of me. The absurdity and humor was lost on me. The fear of never being able to get off of a train hit me in the belly that already had a lot of odd fears in there.

I am not a fan of big bridges. I am not a fan of boats. I always chalked those two up to the fact that I am afraid of swimming. But now when I heard this song, I think I added a new dimension to my fear of various transportation methods. What was it about traveling that worried me?

I have travelled around the world and seen so many amazing places. I am a-ok to fly on a plane (although I prefer planes with many engines. I'll take a 747 any day over a 777.)

Maybe my fear for Charlie stems from being away from loved ones? I certainly hate that. My dream is to have my family live nearby and we all just walk into each others' homes whenever and have great times together.

To be honest, I worried about Charlie not being able to control his fate. That is pretty heavy stuff for a little kid to think about. I must have been just a delight at parties. Anyway, I am much older and, I'd like to think, somewhat wiser now. I can understand and recognize an absurdist song now. I appreciate the humor in it. I feel confident that I do have a great deal of control of my fate and am just fine with the element of unknown that nobody controls about their fate. I love my family and am extremely grateful for them. I am beyond proud of what I have been a part of all these years.

Yet, the site of one little MTA token can still make me worry after all these years....

Here are the lyrics:

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 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 rumbling through

But 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

Now you citizens of Boston
Don't you think its a scandal
How the people have to pay and pay?
Fight the fare increase!
Vote for George O'Brien
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 Paul Revere)
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
Et tu Charlie?

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