COMMENTS: Written by Jacqueline Berman (now Steiner) and
Bess Hawes as a campaign song for Walter F. O'Brian, the
Communist Party candidate in Boston's mayoral election. When
Will Holt recorded the number as a pop song for Coral,
the record company was astounded by a deluge of protests from
Boston because the song made a hero out of a local "radical".
The record was hastily withdrawn an a new version recorded which
eliminated O'Brien's claim to musical fame. In the later
Kingston Trio release, Walter F. was changed to George to avoid
advertising Commies on the air.
Let me tell you the story of a man named Charley
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA
CHORUS: Did he ever return? No, he never returned,
And his fate is still unlearn'd.
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned.
Charley 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."
Charley could not get off that train.
Now all night long Charley rides through the tunnels
Saying, "What will become of me?
How can I afford to see my sister in Chelsea
Or my cousin in Roxbury?"
Charley's wife goes down to the Scollay Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window she hands Charley a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin' through.
Now you citizens of Boston, don't you think it's a scandal
That the people have to pay and pay
Vote for George O'Brien and fight the fare increase
Get poor Charley off the MTA
CHORUS: Or else he'll never return, no he'll never return
And his fate will be unlearned.
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston.
He's the man (Who's the man) He's the man (Oh, the man)
He's the man who never returned.
