Kingston Trio - M.T.A. Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A,D,E keys to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar D7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[G]Now let me tell you a story about a [C]man named Charlie
On this [G]tragic & fateful [D7]day
He put [G]10 cents into his pocket, kissed his [C]wife and family
Went to [G]ride on the [D7]M.T.[G]A.
[chorus]
[G]But did he ever return? No, he [C]never returned,
And his [G]fate is still un[D7]learned
He may [G]ride forever beneath the [C]streets of Boston
He’s the [G]man who [D7]never re[G]turned
[verse 2]
[G]Charlie handed in his dime at the [C]Kendall Square Station
And he [G]changed for Jamaica [D7]Plain
When he [G]got there the conductor told him “[C]One more nickel”
Charlie [G]couldn’t get [D7]off that [G]train
[chorus]
[G]But did he ever return? No, he [C]never returned,
And his [G]fate is still un[D7]learned
He may [G]ride forever beneath the [C]streets of Boston
He’s the [G]man who [D7]never re[G]turned
[verse 3]
Now [G]all night long Charlie [C]rides through the station
Saying, “[G]What will become of [D7]me?
How can [G]I afford to see my [C]sister in Chelsea
Or my [G]cousin in [D7]Roxbu[G]ry?”
[chorus]
[G]But did he ever return? No, he [C]never returned,
And his [G]fate is still un[D7]learned
He may [G]ride forever beneath the [C]streets of Boston
He’s the [G]man who [D7]never re[G]turned
[verse 4]
[G]Charlie’s wife goes down to [C]Scollay Square Station
Every [G]day at a quarter past [D7]two
And through the [G]open window she hands [C]Charlie a sandwich
As the [G]train comes [D7]rumbling [G]through
[chorus]
[G]But did he ever return? No, he [C]never returned,
And his [G]fate is still un[D7]learned
He may [G]ride forever beneath the [C]streets of Boston
He’s the [G]man who [D7]never re[G]turned
[Closing]
[G]Now you citizens of Boston, don’t you [C]think it is a scandal
That the [G]people have to pay and [D7]pay
Fight the [G]fare increase, vote for [C]George O’Brien
And get [G]Charlie off the [D7]M.T.[G]A.!
[chorus]
[G]But did he ever return? No, he [C]never returned,
And his [G]fate is still un[D7]learned
He may [G]ride forever beneath the [C]streets of Boston
He’s the [G]man who [D7]never re[G]turned
He’s the [G]man who [D7]never re[G]turned
How to play M.T.A. on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Kingston Trio - M.T.A. on guitar requires 3 chords and 2 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
M.T.A. uses these transitions most often: D7 → G (21), G → D7 (21), and C → G (20). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - C chord transition.
1. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
2. G → D7 chord transition
To move from G to D7;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.
M.T.A. chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in M.T.A..
- M.T.A. includes 82 chord transitions, 2 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- M.T.A. contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how M.T.A. connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D7: 1%
After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).- D7 → G: 51%