Sylvia's Mother - Dr. Hook
A few observations on this tune ...
First, we can assume that the snubbed boyfriend has deposited an initial 40 cents to be speaking to Sylvia's mother in the first place. Also, the boyfriend is far enough away to have to call long distance.
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
So far, the phone call is up to 80 cents and has lasted at least 6 minutes.
(Chorus)
Please Mrs. Avery I just gotta talk to her, I'll only keep her awhile
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 fellow down Galveston way
Sylvia's mother says please don't say nothin' to make her start crying and stay
And the operator says forty cents more for the next three minutes
Now our phone call has lasted 9 minutes and is up to $1.20 ... also, it appears that Sylvia's mother is going to allow the boyfriend to speak directly to Sylvia, but we never get to hear that conversation.
(Chorus)
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
(Chorus)
Now, the phone call has lasted 12 minutes and has totaled $1.60 ... this works out to 13 1/3 cents per minute. If he'd had called nowadays, the only way he'd get that rate is to use one of those pre-paid phone cards. Also, we just aren't told WHERE Sylvia is going now! Whether she spoke to the boyfriend and is going back to him, or whether she has told him a final goodbye and left for Galveston.
