Kingston Trio - M.T.A. Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele 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
[section 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
[section 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
[section 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 Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Kingston Trio - M.T.A. on ukulele 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;
- While playing G, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- 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;
- While playing G, lift your middle finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 3.
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 Ukulelearn.
- M.T.A. contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how M.T.A. connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D7: 1%
After D7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).- D7 → G: 51%