Utah Bob #35998 Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 So we’re In the car coming back from town and the classic Kingston Trio tune comes on the radio. My wife listens for awhile. “So Charlie can’t get off the train because he needs another nickel for the conductor right?” ”Yup” ”And his wife goes down to the station every day and hands him a sandwich through the window as the train speeds by?” ”Yes”, sez I ”So why doesn’t she hand him a nickel?” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G W Wade Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Maybe she just likes it quiet at home? GW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 would make the song really short Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Because Charlie and his wife are idiots?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tell Sackett SASS 18436 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Was the song on Sirius? I think we heard it a while back. Love that 60s music! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted July 24, 2019 Author Share Posted July 24, 2019 54 minutes ago, Tell Sackett SASS 18436 said: Was the song on Sirius? I think we heard it a while back. Love that 60s music! Yeah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 MTA has toilets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 The point was the "fare increase" was really a tax, and Charlie wasn't gonna pay it. And I figger three or four days of going to the bathroom in the corner of the car, and they'd be glad to let him off, even without the extra nickel. Remember - vote for George O'Brien. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 And for those who don't recall the song (you know - young whipper snappers): The M.T.A. The Kingston Trio These are the times that try men's soulsIn the course of our nation's history the people of Boston have rallied bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatenedToday a new crisis has arisenThe Metropolitan Transit Authority, better known as the M.T.A.Is attempting to levy a burdensome tax on the population in the form of a subway fare increaseCitizens, 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 dayHe put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and familyWent 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 BostonHe's the man who never returned Charlie handed in his dime at the Kendall Square stationAnd he changed for Jamaica PlainWhen 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 BostonHe's the man who never returned Now, all night long Charlie rides through the stationCrying, "what will become of me?How can I afford to see my sister in ChelseaOr 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 BostonHe's the man who never returned Charlie's wife goes down to the Scollay Square stationEvery day at quarter past twoAnd through the open window she hands Charlie a sandwichAs 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 BostonHe's the man who never returnedPick it Davey Kinda hurts my figers Now, you citizens of Boston, don't you think it's a scandalHow the people have to pay and pay?Fight the fare increase, vote for George O'BrianGet poor Charlie off the MTA! Or else he'll never returnNo he'll never return and his fate is still unlearned (just like Paul Revere)He may ride forever 'neath the streets of BostonHe's the man who never returned He's the man who never returnedHe's the man who never returnedEt tu, Charlie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgavin Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 This was one of the very first tunes I heard that gave me a life-long desire to play the 5-string banjo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Sigh...where is the Kingston Trio when you need them???? The MTA is now the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority); The subway fare has increased from 10 cents to $2.90 (if you pay cash); The highest paid MBTA employee in 2017 was an electrical foreman, who made over $270,000; MBTA employees have the potential, on average, under existing rules, to receive a $1.9 million retirement payout; As for that puddle in the corner of the Orange Line car that Charlie was riding on? It's still there.... LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgavin Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 My last, and only, remembrance of the MTA was riding the car to Brookline in the middle of the summer many years ago. The car was jam packed and my nose was stuck in the arm pit of a 300 pound woman in a sleeveless top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 The song they sung that is still apt today is the one that starts, "They're rioting in Africa... (whistling tune)..."They're starving in Spain (whistling tune)..."There's hurricanes in Florida...And Texas needs rain. The whole world is festering with unhappy sores, The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles." It ends up, "...Man's been endowed with a mushroom-shaped cloud! And we can be certain that some lovely day, someone will set the spark off and we will all be blown away!" You can substitute any of the current world situation, but it's still pretty apt!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgavin Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Tom Lehrer also comes to mind... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 17 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said: So we’re In the car coming back from town and the classic Kingston Trio tune comes on the radio. My wife listens for awhile. “So Charlie can’t get off the train because he needs another nickel for the conductor right?” ”Yup” ”And his wife goes down to the station every day and hands him a sandwich through the window as the train speeds by?” ”Yes”, sez I ”So why doesn’t she hand him a nickel?” A lot of folks have asked that question, I suppose. But somewhere, a while ago, I heard it was part of a political campaign about a rate increase on the MTA. As we all know, or suspect, politicians have unlimited power over reality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 She had a boyfriend on the side and this was the best way to keep Charlie away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 This is one of the songs we did as a family, when we where traveling and preforming as a Family ..... The last Gospel Music Jamboree we did was in 2017, along-side the Liberty Quartet , Daae Family and other groups ... The kids are now all Grown and Married, the Youngest will be 25 in two months he was 7 when we started .... Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nasty Newt # 7365 Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Sometime in the late fifties or early sixties my family got it's first stereo record player from Sears. It was a package deal that included several LPs, and "The Kingston Trio's Greatest Hits" was one of them. I asked my mom the same question about why she didn't just give him a nickel, and she said, "It's just a silly song." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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