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Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show ~ "Sylvia's Mother"
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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Dennis Locorriere
Dennis Locorriere
Vocals
Jay David
Jay David
Drums
Bill Francis
Bill Francis
Keyboards
Ray Sawyer
Ray Sawyer
Guitar
George Cummings
George Cummings
Steel Guitar
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein
Songwriter
Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
Arranger
Ron Haffkine
Ron Haffkine
Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Ron Haffkine
Ron Haffkine
Producer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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
[Verse 2]
Please, Mrs. Avery
I've just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery
I just wanna tell her
Goodbye
[Verse 3]
Sylvia's mother
Says Sylvia's packing
She's gon' 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
[Verse 4]
Please, Mrs. Avery
I've just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery
I just wanna tell her
Goodbye
[Verse 5]
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 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
[Verse 6]
Please, Mrs. Avery
I've just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery
I just wanna tell her
Goodbye
[Verse 7]
Tell her goodbye
Please
Tell her goodbye
Written by: Sheldon Silverstein

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