M.T.A. (song)
| Industry | Public transportation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1949 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
Area served | Boston metropolitan area |
M.T.A., commonly referred to as The MTA Song, is a 1949 composition by Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes. Often known informally as "Charlie on the MTA", it narrates the tale of Charlie, a man caught within Boston's subway network, which at the time was operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). Initially created as a campaign anthem for Progressive Party candidate Walter A. O'Brien, the song gained widespread popularity in 1959 through a rendition by the American folk ensemble The Kingston Trio.
This tune has become deeply embedded in Boston’s cultural heritage, inspiring the local transit agency to name its electronic fare system the "CharlieCard" as an homage. The agency, now known as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), commemorated the launch of this card system in 2004 with a ceremony that included a performance by The Kingston Trio and attendance by then-governor Mitt Romney.
Overview
The Kingston Trio’s version begins with Dave Guard delivering a spoken preamble that highlights the contentious subway fare hike imposed by the MTA, portraying it as an oppressive financial burden on commuters. The lyrics recount Charlie’s experience boarding an MTA train but being unable to disembark due to newly introduced "exit fares"—additional charges designed to increase revenue without upgrading fare collection technology.
As a result, Charlie becomes stranded on the train, with his wife bringing him sandwiches during its daily passes. The chorus, which has gained recognition both culturally and commercially, states:
Audience members frequently join in with shouts such as "Poor Old Charlie!" during the refrain. The song concludes with Nick Reynolds uttering "Et tu, Charlie?," emphasizing Charlie’s unfortunate predicament.
History
Derived from an earlier tune titled "The Ship That Never Returned" (and its railroad-themed successor "Wreck of the Old 97"), this song was written in 1949 for Walter A. O'Brien’s mayoral campaign under the Progressive Party banner in Boston. Due to budget constraints that prevented radio advertising, O'Brien employed local folk musicians who performed from a truck equipped with loudspeakers while touring neighborhoods—an effort that resulted in a $10 fine for disturbing public order.
O'Brien’s campaign prominently advocated for reducing subway fares by eliminating the complicated exit fare system, which required a detailed nine-page booklet to explain. He also criticized the city’s takeover of private streetcar operations, claiming it favored previous owners unfairly and led to increased costs for riders. In The Kingston Trio’s version, "Walter A. O'Brien" was altered to "George O'Brien" to avoid political controversy related to socialist affiliations.
Geography
Within the song’s narrative, Charlie boards at Kendall Square station (presently known as Kendall/MIT) and makes a transfer en route to Jamaica Plain. Since Kendall is located on today’s Red Line, his connection toward Jamaica Plain would have occurred at Park Street. From there, he took the #39 streetcar route (which later became part of the Green Line E branch) heading toward Jamaica Plain. At the time of the song’s origin in 1949, this line extended all the way to Arborway (now Forest Hills), though service was truncated back to Heath Street in 1985.
Additionally, the lyrics mention Charlie’s wife visiting him daily at Scollay Square, which is now called Government Center on the Green Line.
The Kingston Trio
| Chart (1959) | Highest ranking |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 15 |
Music
- The tune of the song was adapted by the Chad Mitchell Trio in "Super Skier," penned by Bob Gibson, which concludes with the plea to "get Charlie off the MTA."
- Boston-based punk group Dropkick Murphys produced Skinhead on the MBTA, featured on their 1998 release Do or Die.
- "The Man Who Finally Returned" by The Front Porch Country Band tells the story of Charlie's departure from the MTA following renovations linked to the Big Dig.
- In 2003, Bob Haworth of The Kingston Trio composed and recorded "MTA Revisited."
- Folk artist Fred Small created a parody titled "Sergei in the Milky Way," narrating cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov’s journey while closely following the original melody.
- The song is referenced by Frank Black in "Living on Soul" with the lyric: "You can't get off your stop / Like old Charlie on the MTA."
- In an episode of Malcolm in the Middle called "Long Drive," Hal’s bluegrass ensemble The Gentleman Callers performs the song.
- Following the 2022 extended MBTA Orange Line closure, local musicians staged a parody titled "Charlie (Baker) on the MBTA" at Back Bay Station, satirizing both the shutdown and Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker's limited transit use; this was featured on All Things Considered.
- Folk musician Dave Van Ronk recorded "Georgie on the IRT," a dark tale about a man decapitated by subway doors, with his head endlessly traveling between Times Square and Flatbush Avenue.
Other
- In his paper "CONS Should Not CONS Its Arguments, Part II: Cheney on the M.T.A.," computer scientist Henry Baker alludes to the song to illustrate implementing Cheney's algorithm via C functions that, like Charlie, never return.
- The Lambda Papers, authored by computer scientists Guy L. Steele Jr. and Gerald Jay Sussman, also reference this song when explaining functions such as Lisp’s driver loop that do not return, metaphorically echoing Charlie’s endless ride.