A Question About The Kingston Trio's "MTA"...

[CO Liberal]

...which they just played on the radio. It's the story of Charley, a man who was stuck on the MTA because the fare went up, and he didn't have "one more nickel".

One verse goes like this:

"Charley's wife goes down to the Scully Square Station
Every day at quarter past two.
And through the open window
She hands Charley a sandwich
As the train come rumbling through."

Why didn't she just hand Charley a nickel????

:shrug:

[rainy]

1. because then he wouldn't be the "man who never returned."

[Danmel]

2. Because then there'd be no song.

He may ride forever neath the streets of Boston, he's the man who never returned.

[mcscajun]

12. More...

"Fight the fare increase!
Vote for Walter A. O'Brien!
Get poor Charlie off the M.T.A.!"

1940's political rally song, later changed to...

"Vote for George O'Brien!" ... to eliminate the controversy when the Kingston Trio recorded it.

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

3. I have wondered that as well.

I guess nickels are hard to aim accurately..without the weight of the sandwich. Of course she could just as easily put the nickel IN the sandwich, but he might eat it. Or hey, maybe they can't afford another nickel. Damn those exit fares..

[Book Lover]

4. It was the best way to keep the marriage legally intact

but allow her the freedom to be her own woman?

[TayTay]

5. 'Cuz then the song would have ended!

And there is no Scollay Square anymore. (One of my dads cousins used to be, ahm, employed there at one of the burlesque houses. Burlesque houses, hmm, that's how long there hasn't been a Scollay Square.)

Should Charlie now find himself adrift on the 'T' he would have to have a pass handed to him. The new public transportation passes are going to be called Charlies in his honor.

[SpiralHawk]

6. 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.

[blondeatlast]

7. She was confused, and put the nickel IN the sandwich.

The real question is thus:

When will Charley--never mind.

[banana republican]

8. Cuse he was hungry???

[teach1st]

9. Download it...

http://www.tuff-teach.com/pics/MTA.mp3

[MaineDem]

10. We've been known to sing...

...and through the open window
She gives Charlie the finger
As the train comes rumbling through...

Don't ask me why. :D

[Left Is Write]

11. I have always wondered that myself.

Now, of course, I will have that song running through my head for the rest of the night.

Next someone will start a thread about Tom Dooley....

[Bunny]

14. Hang down your head, Tom Dooley.

Hang down your head and cry.
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley,

well, you can fill in the rest!

:P

[no_hypocrisy]

13. My second grade teacher taught us that song. She couldn't give us a

straight answer to that question.