now let me tell you a story of a big ole' skinhead
on a tragic and fateful day
he put 10 cents in his pocket
kicked his wife and family
and went to ride on the m.b.t.a

Chorus

did he ever return,
no he never returned
and his fate is still unknown
he may ride forever 'neath the streets of boston
he's a skinhead who never returned

skinhead goes down to the kendall sq. station
and he changes for jamaica plain,
the conductor says skinhead i need a nickel,
skinhead (punches him in the brain)

now all night long skinhead drives through the station
wondering who can i go and see
can't afford to buy crack in chelsea
or a bundle in roxbury

skinhead's wife goes to the scollay square station
everyday at quarter past two,
and through the open window she hands skinhead a grenade
as the train comes a rumbling through

now you citizens of boston
don't you think its a scandal
how the skinhead stole the train
what's the big fuckin' deal,
he'll work for beer
let the skinhead drive the fucking train
chorus:2x

Overall Meaning

The song “Skinhead on the MBTA” by the Dropkick Murphys tells the story of a skinhead who takes a ride on the MBTA and never returns. The song is about a real incident that took place in Boston in the 1960s when a skinhead got on the train and refused to pay the fare. He was eventually kicked off the train but not before he caused a commotion and punched a conductor in the face. The lyrics describe the skinhead’s rampage through the train stations, his conflicted feelings about where to go and who to see, and his wife’s involvement in his scheme.

The first verse sets the scene by introducing the skinhead and his actions leading up to his ride on the MBTA. The line “kicked his wife and family” suggests that he was a violent man who didn’t care about the consequences of his actions. The chorus is catchy and memorable, repeating the phrase “did he ever return” and creating a sense of mystery and tragedy around the skinhead’s disappearance. The second verse follows the skinhead’s journey through the train stations as he tries to figure out where to go and how to get there. The line “can’t afford to buy crack in Chelsea” highlights the social and economic issues faced by many people in Boston at that time.

The final verse introduces the skinhead’s wife and her role in his plan. The line “she hands skinhead a grenade” is shocking and unexpected, revealing the depth of the skinhead’s desperation and the danger he poses to those around him. The chorus is repeated twice, emphasizing the song’s main message and the enduring mystery surrounding the skinhead’s fate.

Overall, the song tells a compelling story of a violent and troubled man who causes chaos and destruction as he rides the MBTA. The lyrics are vivid and memorable, bringing the story to life and raising important social and political issues related to poverty, violence, and desperation in urban America.

Line by Line Meaning

now let me tell you a story of a big ole' skinhead
I am going to narrate a tale about a large skinhead

on a tragic and fateful day
On a day of misfortune and doom

he put 10 cents in his pocket
He placed 10 cents in his pocket

kicked his wife and family
He kicked his wife and loved ones

and went to ride on the m.b.t.a
Then, he boarded the M.B.T.A

did he ever return,
Did he ever come back?

no he never returned
No, he never returned

and his fate is still unknown
Now, his fate remains a mystery

he may ride forever 'neath the streets of boston
There is a possibility he rides under Boston's streets forever

he's a skinhead who never returned
He is a skinhead who never came back

skinhead goes down to the kendall sq. station
The skinhead ventures to the Kendall Square Station

and he changes for jamaica plain,
He switches to another train headed towards Jamaica Plain

the conductor says skinhead i need a nickel,
The conductor requests a nickel from the skinhead

skinhead (punches him in the brain)
The skinhead hits the conductor in the head

now all night long skinhead drives through the station
Throughout the night, the skinhead drives within the station

wondering who can i go and see
Pondering who to visit

can't afford to buy crack in chelsea
Unable to pay for crack in Chelsea

or a bundle in roxbury
Or unable to afford a bundle in Roxbury

skinhead's wife goes to the scollay square station
Skinhead's wife heads towards the Scollay Square Station

everyday at quarter past two,
Routine of arriving daily at 2:15 PM

and through the open window she hands skinhead a grenade
Through the open window, she gives the skinhead a grenade

as the train comes a rumbling through
As the train approaches

now you citizens of boston
Fellow residents of Boston

don't you think its a scandal
Isn't it a disgrace?

how the skinhead stole the train
How the skinhead hijacked the train

what's the big fuckin' deal,
What is the huge fuss?

he'll work for beer
He will work for alcohol

let the skinhead drive the fucking train
Allow the skinhead to drive the train

chorus:2x
Repeat chorus twice

Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@simontemplar3359

2y↑14

I love this band, but Mike McColgan's voice suits this band perfectly. This album changed lives. I know because mine was one of them.

@kevinlong3992

(reading this comment from my desk at my union job)

@Carlos-ej9hj

5y↑7

The fucking first song that today of the Dropkick Murphys years 97 or so,this is great! I went running to show it to a friend, from there, until now .... OiOiOi