Check out this article first, here. Do you know Charlie? He got lost on the subways of Boston one day, and was never found again. Well, his wife did take him lunch on the train once, but even she hasn't seen him since. If you're not from Boston I will fill you in on the joke--Charlie on the MTA was actually a song called the "M.T.A. Song" with the MTA standing for Metropolitan Transit Authority. Now, of course, the MTA has become the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and goes from Maine to Rhode Island, in addition to serving the city center of Boston. Back in the old days, the song was written as sort of a protest ditty, and it became very popular. The Kingston Trio even recorded it! Well, the song was meant to protest the policy of collecting a fare token when a person got on a train AND when they left the train (a doubling of the effective fare). The policy was eventually changed, and the song remained popular amongst transit aficionados. The song retained its popularity so much so that when the MBTA was tasked with finding a nickname for its prepaid transit fare card media, the public voted on the name "The Charlie Card"--and approved it! I remember hearing many a commuter being asked to produce their "Chaalee Cahd" for a fare check by the police. The song lyrics are at the end of this post. I'll just say this before I get there: one of the things that older folks now have issues with is transportation and getting around in this car-centric world of ours. Obviously the song was written about Charlie and his problem with the fares on the MTA. But it could just as easily be used to talk about the horribly confusing state of non-private car-based transportation in our country. If you have an older relative of friend who is having problems with driving their own car, and seek to convert them from a private car driver to a public transit rider, you might need help. Why not call me to talk about it? I'm a lawyer but my first area of expertise was public transportation--helping get it built, helping people use it, utilize it for their needs, and helping people advocate for its expansion. As part of an elderly care plan, maybe we should talk about that person's car usage--not taking away their license but setting some realistic expectations for its usage. And not making someone ride a bus everywhere, but thinking about using other options first--like shared ride services, carpooling, biking, riding light rail or other public transit, or even thinking about ordering groceries on the internet. You might think you can get someone to stop driving their own car by yourself. I would be happy to chat with you about ways that I could help you help that friend of yours not turn out like poor Charlie on the MTA. These are the times that try men's souls
In the course of our nation's history the people of Boston have rallied bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened Today a new crisis has arisen The 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 increase Citizens, 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 day He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family Went 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 Boston He's the man who never returned Charlie 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" 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 Boston He's the man who never returned Now, all night long Charlie rides through the station Crying, "what will become of me? How can I afford to see my sister in Chelsea Or 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 Boston He's the man who never returned Charlie's wife goes down to the Scollay Square station Every day at quarter past two And through the open window she hands Charlie a sandwich As 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 Boston He's the man who never returned Pick it Davey Kinda hurts my figers Now, you citizens of Boston, don't you think it's a scandal How the people have to pay and pay? Fight the fare increase, vote for George O'Brian Get poor Charlie off the MTA! Or else he'll never return No he'll never return and his fate is still unlearned (just like Paul Revere) He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston He's the man who never returned He's the man who never returned He's the man who never returned Et tu, Charlie? Songwriters: Bess Hawes / Jacqueline Steiner The M.T.A. lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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AuthorJeff Sodoma, MPA, Esq. is a lawyer based in Virginia Beach, Virginia Blog!Hello, there! Welcome to my blog. I will use this blog as a platform for my writing. I will write about topics in the legal world, certainly, as well as everything else under the sun, because I have many interests (and viewpoints). All views expressed in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are mine alone. One of my interests is music--my wife believes that I should go on "Beat Shazam" because I know so many songs--and I will be, from time to time, analyzing song lyrics and how they relate to the legal world.
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