Lyrics:

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 gotta 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 gonna be leaving today'
Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's marrying
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, 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

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 call back again?'
And the operator says forty 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 want to tell her goodbye
Tell her goodbye
Please, tell her goodbye