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