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 Mrs. Avery, I've just got to talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please Mrs. Avery, just want to tell her
Goodbye!

Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's packing
She's gonna be leaving today
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's marrying
A fellah 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 Mrs. Avery, I've just got to talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please Mrs. Avery, just want to tell her
Goodbye!
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's hurrying
She's catching the nine'o'clock train
Sylvia's mother says: "Take your umbrella
'Cause Sylvie it's starting to rain"
And Sylvia's mother says "Thank you for calling
And sir won't you come back again?"

And the operator says
"Forty cents more, for the next three minutes"
Please Mrs. Avery, I've just got to talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please Mrs. Avery, just want to tell her
Goodbye!