Affleck had to get out of Boston, but Charlie couldn't

“I knew I had to get out of Boston and stop making movies there, at least for one movie, otherwise no one would ever consider me for a movie that took place south of Providence.’’

—Ben Affleck, film actor, director and screenwriter

“Did he ever return?
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn'd.
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned.’’

— From the song “Charlie on the MTA’’. The song was written in 1949 and became a national hit when recorded by The Kingston Trio, in 1959.

The lyrics tell of a man named Charlie trapped on Boston's subway system, once known as the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA, which also included buses), now the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (which also includes commuter trains). The MBTA eventually named its electronic card-based fare- collection system the "CharlieCard" as a tribute to this song.