It seems more than a touch ironic that Charlie the mythical hero of “Charlie on the MTA” has been adopted by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (Successor to the MTA) to personify their new automated fare card. The lyrics were written by in 1948 by Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes as a campaign song for Walter A Obrien. Obrien who was Progressive Party candidate for mayor of Boston, made fighting fare increases a major part of his platform. The 1959 Kingston Trio recording changed the lyrics banishing Obrien bacause all members of the Progressive party were labeled Communists. You can find more information on the song on Jonathon Reeds Charlie on the MTA page. The Boston.com article on the “Charlie Card” can be found here.
Thanks to Jody Kolodzey who pointed this out on the Folk Alliance mailing list.
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