M.T.A.

Written by Jacqueline Steiner; Bess Lomax Hawes

Key of G · Chords: I IV V

# Tabbed by: Kurt
# Reviewed by Cade


# columns: 2

Verse

           G
Now let me tell you a story
         C
 'bout a man named Charlie
        G                  D7
On this tragic and fateful day,
       G
He put 10 cents in his pocket,
           C
kissed his wife and family
        G           D   G
Went to ride on the M.T.A.

Chorus

           G
But did he ever return?
       C
No, he never returned,
        G               D
And his fate is still unlearned
(Echo: “What a pity”)
       G
He may ride forever
           C
'neath the streets of Boston
         G
He's the man
    D7      G
who never returned.

Verse

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, echo: “Poor ol’ Charlie”

Verse

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?"

Chorus, echo: “Shame and scandal”

Verse

Charlie's wife goes down
to Scollay Square Station
Every day at quarter past two,
And though the open window
she hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin' through.

Chorus, echo: “He may ride forever”

Instrumental breaks

Verse

Now you citizens of Boston,
don't you think it is a scandal
How the people have to pay and pay?
Fight the fare increase,
vote for George O'Brien,
Get Charlie off the M.T.A.!

Chorus, start with “Or else he’ll never…

And echo: “Just like politicians”

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