Sylvia's mother says sylvia's busy
Too busy to come to the phone
Sylvia's mother says sylvia's trying
To start a new life of her own
Sylvia's mother says sylvia's happy
So why don't you leave her alone
And the operator says
Forty cents more
For the next three minutes
Please missus avery
I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her awhile
Please missus avery
I just wanna tell her goodbye
Sylvia's mother says sylvia's packing
She's gonna be leaving today
Sylvia's mother says sylvia's marry
A fella down galveston way
Sylvia's mother says please don't say nothing
To make her start crying and stay
And the operator says
Forty cents more
For the next three minutes
Please missus avery
I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her awhile
Please missus avery
I just wanna tell her goodbye
Sylvia's mother says sylvia's hanging
She's catching the nine o'clock train
Sylvia's mother says take your umbrella
Cause sylvia's starting to rain
And sylvia's mother says thank you for calling
And sir won't you call back again
And the operator says
Forty cents more
For the next three minutes
Please missus avery
I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her awhile
Please missus avery
I just wanna tell her goodbye
Tell her goodbye
Please tell her goodbye