Sylvia's Mother -- Dr. Hook

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 just got to talk to her I'll only keep her

a while Please Mrs. Avery I just want to tell her  Goodbye

Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's packing, she's going be leaving today
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's marrying, a fellow 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

Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's hurrying, she's catching the nine o'clock train  Sylvia's mother says Take your umbrella, cause Sylvia 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

Tell her goodbye  Please, tell her goodbye  Goodbye

Shel Silverstein wrote this as a parody of teen-heartbreak songs. It was delivered with very dramatic emotion.   (songfacts)