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, now why don't you leave her alone?"

Chorus:
And the operator says, "Forty cents more
For the nest three minutes."
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell her goodbye, goodbye
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell

Sylvia's mother says
"Sylvia's packin', shes gonna be leavin' today."
Sylvia's mother says
"Sylvia's marryin', a fellow down Galveston way."
Sylvia's mother says
"Please don't say nothin' to make her start cryin' and stay."

Chorus:
And the operator says, "Forty cents more
For the nest three minutes."
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell her goodbye, goodbye
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell

Sylvia's mother says
"Sylvia's hurryin', she's catchin' the nine o'clock plane."
Sylvia's mother says
"Take your umbrella, 'cause sylvia it's startin' to rain."
Sylvia's mother says
"Thank you for callin' and sir, won't you call back again?"

Chorus:
And the operator says, "Forty cents more
For the nest three minutes."
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell her goodbye, goodbye
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell...