spoken duction
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
song
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
and 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 stations
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
pick it davey
kinda hurts my fingers
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 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
he’s the man who never returned
et tu charlie
songwriters jacqueline steiner and bess lomax hawes
Artist: The Kingston Trio
Year: 1959
Decade: 50s
Language: en
Word Count: 254