Sylvia's mother says Sylvia is busy
Too busy to come to the phone
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia is tryin'
To start a new life of her own
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia is happy
"So why don't you leave her alone?"
And the operator says 40 cents more
For the next three minutes
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just wanna tell her goodbye
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's packin'
She's gonna be leavin' today
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia is marrying
A fella down Galveston way
And Sylvia's mother says, "Please don't say nothing"
"To make her start cryin' and stay"
And the operator says 40 cents more
For the next three minutes
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just got to talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just wanna tell her goodbye
Sylvia's mother says, "Sylvia's hurrying
She's catching the 9 o'clock train"
Sylvia's mother says, "Take your umbrella"
"'Cause, Sylvie, it's startin' to rain"
And Sylvia's mother says, "Thank you for calling"
"And, sir, won't you call back again"
And the operator says 40 cents more
For the next three minutes
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just got to talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just wanna tell her goodbye
Tell her goodbye
Please, tell her goodbye
