Enquiring minds

[susandennis]

If Poor Charlie's wife passed him a sandwich everyday through window, why couldn't she slip him the money for his fare so he could get off the MTA? 

When I first heard this song, I was a teenager and had the same question. 

Kind of like why didn't the camera man help the old lady who fell and couldn't get up?

Comments

[albadger.livejournal.com]

I always assumed it was because she was quite happy to have him stuck on the train.

[susandennis]

Now... there's a theory I hadn't considered!

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had the same question and came up with the same answer.

Since then, of course, the idea of a 15-cent fare has become unimaginable, and the MTA has (1) added a B to its name and (2) eliminated pay-as-you-get-off supplementary fares.

MBTA subway fare is scheduled to go up to $1.70 in January. Oh, and the new fare-card system is called "Charlie".

[pheon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that always bothered me, too. I guess since it was a campaign song aimed at voters, it didn't actually have to make logical sense.

[susandennis]

political campaigns don't have to make logical sense??? seriously?

[pheon.livejournal.com]

Proof by example: How many have you known that did?

[kyrielle]

I wondered that as a kid, too - not to mention why the MTA didn't eject him as it would surely be cheaper to have him off the train so a real commuter could use the seat!

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Because she was broke, too?

I never ever thought of that at all. I was just glad it had a good beat.