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've 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 gonna 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"

Please Mrs. Avery, I've 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 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"

Please Mrs. Avery, I've just got to 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