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, 40 cents more For the next 3 minutes Ple-ease Mrs Avery, I just gotta talk to her I'll only keep her a while Please Mrs Avery, I just wanna tell 'er 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, 40 cents more For the next 3 minutes Ple-ease Mrs Avery, I just gotta talk to her I'll only keep her a while Please Mrs Avery, I just wanna tell 'er goodbye Sylvia's mother says, Sylvia's hurryin' She's catchin' the nine o'clock train Sylvia's mother says, take your umbrella 'Cause Sylvia, 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, 40 cents more For the next 3 minutes Ple-ease Mrs Avery, I just gotta talk to her I'll only keep her a while Please Mrs Avery, I just wanna tell 'er goodbye Tell her goodbye Please Tell her goodbye