[Intro]
D   D   D  x2

[Verse]
      D                                 G
Well, let me tell you of the story of a man named Charlie
     D                  A7
On a tragic and fateful day
       D                                   G
He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family
        D           A7  D
Went to ride on the M-T-A

[Chorus]
D
Well, did he ever return?
      G                      D               A7
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
(What a pity)
       D                       G
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
             D       A       D
And he's the man who never returned.

[Verse]
        D                         G
Charlie handed in his dime at the Kendall Square station
       D                   A7
And he changed for Jamaica Plain
        D                                  G
When he got there the conductor told him, "One more nickel"
        D            A7          D
Charlie couldn't get off of that train!


[Chorus]
D
Well, did he ever return?
      G                      D               A7
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
(Poor Old Charlie)
       D                       G
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
             D       A       D
And he's the man who never returned.

[Verse]
     D                      G
Now, all night long Charlie rides through the stations
         D                   A7
Crying, "What will become of me?
    D                      G
How can I afford to see my sister in Chelsea
      D         A7   D
Or my cousin in Roxbury?"

[Chorus]
D
But, did he ever return?
      G                      D               A7
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
(Shame and Scandal)
       D                       G
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
         D       A       D
He's the man who never returned.

[Verse]
          D                     G
Charlie's wife goes down to the Scollay Square station
      D                   A7
Every day at quarter past two
    D                                 G
And through the open window she hands Charlie a sandwich
       D           A7       D
As the train comes rumbling through!

[Chorus]
D
But, did he ever return?
      G                      D               A7
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
(He may ride forever)
       D                       G
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
             D       A       D
And he's the man who never returned.

Pick it Davey...

[Instrumental]
D   G   D   A7
           (Kinda hurts my fingers)
D   G   D A7 D

[Verse]
         D                   G
Now, you citizens of Boston, don't you think it's a scandal
        D                      A7
How the people have to pay and pay?
          D                       G
Fight the fare increase, vote for George O'Brian!
         D               A7  D
Get poor Charlie off the M-T-A!

D
Or else he'll never return
      G                      D               A7
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
                                              (Just like Paul Revere)
       D                       G
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
         D       A       D
He's the man who never returned!
         D       A       D
He's the man who never returned!
         D       A       D
He's the man who never returned!


Et tu, Charlie?

Songwriters: Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes