Workin' For The MTA
Justin Townes Earle Lyrics

The song Workin' For The MTA by Justin Townes Earle tells the story of a man who is working for the MTA (New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority), running a six-line train from Brooklyn Bridge to Pelham Bay. He is the son of a railroad man from south Louisiana and, despite the hard times that are going around and bringing hard luck on New York town, he is hopeful and banking on the ATE (a reference to the American Transit Express) to see him free. The song speaks to the challenging and often cold conditions that are present in the tunnels that MTA workers have to navigate daily. The repetition of the line "it's cold in them tunnels today" emphasizes the discomfort that comes with the job, but it's also a nod to the difficult times that people are experiencing beyond just the weather.

At its core, the song is about the lives of working-class Americans and the struggles they face to provide for themselves and their families. There's a sense of pride in the way the singer talks about his job, despite its drawbacks, and in the fact that he is following in his father's footsteps. He reflects on his situation with a sense of determination and resolve to overcome the challenges and make a better life for himself. The song is a tribute to those who work hard every day to keep our cities moving, despite the difficulties they face.