Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's busy, too busy to come to the phone'
Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's tryin' 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 wanna tell her goodbye

Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's packin', she's gonna be leavin' today'
Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's marryin' a fella down Galveston way'
Sylvia's mother says, 'Please don't say nothin'
To make her start cryin' 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 wanna tell her goodbye

Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's hurryin', she's catchin' the nine 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 callin'
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 wanna tell her goodbye, tell her goodbye
Please, tell her goodbye