Dr. Hook - Sylvia's Mother Lyrics






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'
Please 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'
Please 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 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, '40 cents more for the next 3 minutes'
Please 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





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Dr. Hook Sylvia's Mother Comments
  1. I.... T....

    1972 👍.......still there.....🤩

  2. G.... W....

    This song was inspired by a true love story, making it all the more powerful. It was written by Shel Silverstein, probably best known for his children's book, The Giving Tree. RIP Shel

  3. R.... J....

    Such memories

  4. G.... C....

    I'm 66 years old and still listen to the bands and duos that were around in the 50s,60,70,. And I have a CD collection of Led Zeppelin my wife bought me many years ago.

  5. B.... C....

    Mrs Avery WAS letting him know
    "9 o'clock train" and called out to her to take umbrella.
    Sad that their love was not be.

  6. B.... T....

    Who will still be listening to this ten years from now?

    B.... T....

    I will 💃

    B.... T....

    I will...

  7. T.... ....

    Bro, Sylvia’s mother was just trying to look out for her

  8. G.... G....

    This song touches me like a bottle of ripple

    G.... G....

    Fuckin magic my friend

  9. J.... W....

    Just fucking awesome. Did I mention that this is just fucking awesome

  10. L.... F....

    My granny is called Sylvia and she had passed away and this song is special for me

  11. S.... S....

    Why???? Cause I've been right this whole time:)))))

  12. S.... S....

    My comment was pulled

  13. N.... B....

    Mrs
    Avery was a controlling bitch.

  14. L.... S....

    I did NOT know, Charles Mansion had a band, i am young, Grampa, you're right, you win.

  15. R.... m....

    Dennis and Ray......You guys were the best!!!

  16. S.... S....

    ...it don't get no better...a Classic till the end of days...

  17. J.... B....

    I am an avid country music fan but these guy's have a few tear jerkers i like this is one.

    J.... B....

    I love this song. Thanks for posting. Takes me back a few years

    J.... B....

    I love this song. More Like The Movies is another great song.

  18. m.... m....

    BASED ON A TRUE STORY.

  19. G.... W....

    Like most of the early songs recorded by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, this was written by Shel Silverstein. Silversteen was a brilliant storyteller with a vivid imagination, but this story was real.

    In the song, Sylvia's mother is Mrs. Avery, and while that wasn't her real last name, the rest of the story - exaggerated a bit - was true. Silversteen told Rolling Stone in 1972: "I just changed the last name, not to protect the innocent, but because it didn't fit. It happened about eight years ago and was pretty much the way it was in the song. I called Sylvia and her mother said, 'She can't talk to you.' I said, 'Why not?' Her mother said she was packing and she was leaving to get married, which was a big surprise to me. The guy was in Mexico and he was a bullfighter and a painter. At the time I thought that was like being a combination brain surgeon and encyclopedia salesman. Her mother finally let me talk to her, but her last words were, 'Shel, don't spoil it.'

    G.... W....

    Shel Silverstein is probably best famous for his children's book, "The Giving Tree." RIP Shel

  20. F.... A....

    Apaichonada 🥰❤👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷

  21. D.... C....

    Romja.thank you.

  22. k.... p....

    This song rips my heart out

  23. R.... B....

    Brilliant song! ❤❤❤

    R.... B....

    Rosie Belle you are so correct. I'm 66 and can still remember songs from my era.

  24. D.... C....

    Number one song in my book.

  25. J.... M....

    I love this,, listen to any song I want, at any time. Awesome

  26. W.... G....

    I would have loved to see them in concert 🤟🤟🤟

  27. D.... S....

    In ❤️ loving memories of the Boys in DA BAND, ♦️♦️♦️ As Always Patriotically inspired by Ray and George 💔♦️🇺🇸‼️ staudohar.com

  28. N.... R....

    Me and my mother loved music

  29. K.... H....

    Memories, I love this song, thanks for putting it out there...

  30. C.... O....

    Bloody brilliant song, they don't make them like this anymore.

    C.... O....

    Written by Shel Silverstein who was a brilliant writer from books and poems to music . He wrote many of Dr Hooks songs

    C.... O....

    Chrissy Oakleypalmer Nope they don’t. They used to tell a story in a song. Now it’s just bs crap.

  31. C.... B....

    bunch of hillbillies

    C.... B....

    They were from New Jersey LOL

  32. G.... B....

    It’s not the same today

  33. G.... B....

    Used to drink beer and listen to this song look for snatch

  34. P.... ....

    One of my all time favorites !! I know where he is coming from having been in that same situation. Life can suck at times !! IMHO

  35. P.... C....

    Real music I love it

  36. J.... C....

    True legend

  37. J.... R....

    I sang this song to Sylvia Decker on her Hospital bed. She was dying. She had no other visitors to speak of. She got a pair of shoes for Christmas. We laughed and laughed because she had lost her feet to Diabetes.. She was old and wrinkled , but had a heart of gold. I hold this song dear because Mrs Decker died just a few days later. It had started to rain,, She went to catch the 9 o'clock train ,to that new life.

    J.... R....

    that lovely

  38. M.... T....

    This is the first singer I heard that had a tear voice.😢. I still love this song.

  39. T.... R....

    A sure example of old fashion love. No matter how hard it gets you keep going. Love DR HOOK

  40. M.... D....

    Based on a true story.

  41. T.... ....

    Sylvia's mother says: "And Sir, won't you call back again?" for one reason only...and that's because, now that Sylvia's out of the way, she fancies a bit of young, fresh cock.

  42. e.... s....

    I was sooo young

  43. A.... G....

    Music and Vocals at the best time... 💖💖💖

  44. M.... H....

    the best band ever!

  45. G.... L....

    SAW THEM IN THE LATE SEVENTIES , A GREAT BAND NEVER GIVEN THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE !

    G.... L....

    My brother saw them live many years ago. He said they were rude, crude and so insulting that 2/3 of the audience left. Then the band broke out whiskey for all. My brother said one of the best concerts ever

  46. R.... ....

    They don't write songs like this anymore.

  47. B.... J....

    Very beautiful song <3 12\05\2019

  48. S.... A....

    Well, this great evergreen song has also been popular in Croatia, because one well known Croatian pop singer has done a Croatian version of this song.The melody is the same, only the lyrics are slightly modified:-)).

  49. D.... R....

    I still have this song stuck in my head in Dec. 2019. It was the best time for music ever!

    D.... R....

    I bought this record when it came out in the 70s, i still listen to it , class is class and will always be recognised by each generation . My adult children play it regularly , testament to the music and the artistes

  50. C.... A....

    I was wild... Young ... And horny... Then.... I am wild... Old... And still horny.... I love it....

  51. G.... ....

    I love this song

  52. S.... B....

    Dr Hook used to get the authorities all upset in the 70's, in the South. Saw them almost kicked off the stage in Huntsville, Alabama....😂

    S.... B....

    Uh, no they didn't.

  53. B.... I....

    Sylvia dumped me in the 70s for a no hoper I married a wonderful woman wish you well pet

  54. w.... f....

    Just listened to someone else sing it and it was pretty decent but this is just a classic thats all

  55. A.... K....

    I read loved this song😊😊

  56. d.... ....

    I always loved this song from the first time I heard in about 1973, but until tonite,I had NO idea this was a real story of heartbreak suffered by Shel Silverstein long ago.Just watched the 5 minute "story behind the song" and there is "Sylvia" and her Mother telling the story of why the song came about.Fantastic. It's even more of a tear jerker when you know it was real.

  57. J.... M....

    From the beginnning , so in the back was nothing BUT a hairy under arm?

  58. V.... K....

    Did they ever get their picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone?

  59. A.... D....

    Supersong der70Jahre

  60. j.... J....

    In upstate NY in the 70's you had to wait for the person to answer then you dropped the dime . I remember this song. I was 11

  61. d.... ....

    hard to imagine they also sang "I got stoned and missed it"

    d.... ....

    And don't forget, Freakin at the dreamers ball....

    d.... ....

    Why is it hard to imagine? There hippies, my parents were hippies this was on the turntable 24/7 at our place

  62. T.... M....

    What is this!

  63. C.... A....

    Great song that tells a typical story not uncommon in those Lifetime TV movies. Mom wants to make sure her kid's trailer trash ex BF doesn't stop her from a marriage to some poor schlub who doesn't realize he's a merely rebound boy of convenience. If Sylvia was really in love with Galveston dude, she'd tell Salt Water to go pound sand. Of course, if she had any self esteem, she wouldn't have hooked up with him in the first place. This song also sends a message that chicks have an uncanny knack for choosing losers. I'll bet you 40 cents more she'll be cheating on Rebound Guy in short order, a la Two Moon Junction.

  64. M.... 9....

    there's only a handful of people that should sing this song , if you watched the video , you know who they are

  65. P.... V....

    My father showed me this masterpiece when I was really young, and I'm so glad he did

  66. I.... ....

    Timeless classics

  67. A.... R....

    How can someone give this a thumbs down?!

    A.... R....

    I know, why would you???

  68. j.... ....

    Can’t get enough ... for the next 3 mins ..... please ❤️

  69. i.... s....

    listen in Germany 23.11.2019

  70. J.... ....

    To bad her mother had to be such a bitch , I mean damn exleast let him tell her good-bye!!!

  71. D.... E....

    I had an affair in Munster Germany with a beautiful girl called Silva Gotz .
    Her mother hated me with a vengeance
    This always makes me think of her
    I still call her the love of my life

  72. W.... i....

    Well I used to get some other girl to make the call to my girl's house, to avoid "Mrs Gabriel's" interrogations. Damn where was WhatsApp when we needed it

  73. G.... G....

    Love this from a Jewish community who used to feel safe in london

    G.... G....

    That's a comment that needs further discussion...

  74. s.... t....

    Blood hell this bought back some childhood memories my old mum always played this x

  75. D.... D....

    Just installing a new patio, , how tall are you?....

  76. e.... h....

    s ist my girl

  77. R.... D....

    Lyrics:
    Dr Hook perform Sylvias Mother
    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.

    R.... D....

    Love this song, band is iconic! thank you :)

    R.... D....

    I asked my mother to be Mrs. Avery; then, she would take it upon herself bc she didn't want me to leave home

    R.... D....

    maybe, Sylvia's mommy can go Cougar on ya, son.
    help you 4get Sylvia.

    R.... D....

    I love this song, it reminds me of when l was 16 yrs old and my ❤️ Heart and the love of my life just was leaving for Viet Nam war, my mother would not let me talk to him. I wanted to die, l did not know if my son or l would ever see him again. Lucky my son saw him once and I never got to see him again. I just died for a very long time, then when l was 32 l met another man who healed my broken ❤️ Heart. God bless you Dr Hook for your song. JOB

    R.... D....

    TheBotosanu
    WOW. That must have been difficult to endure. My heart breaks for your lost first love. Glad you found your forever though.

  78. B.... B....

    This came out when I was in grade school. It has always made me think of Lincoln school, and the good memories of that time.

  79. R.... H....

    This song is on another level. that level is out of the music's phere, ,

  80. c.... ....

    Silva's mother should mind her own business

  81. H.... F....

    immer wieder gut

  82. T.... M....

    Doctor Patch

  83. Q.... S....

    its sad if you lost the one you loved the most

  84. P.... R....

    I bought this as 45rpm single in 1972...still amazing memories of those halcyon days.

  85. k.... ....

    goodbye ray (eye patch) sawyer we will miss you

  86. W.... 1....

    Dennis had some reverb to his voice, didn't he.

    W.... 1....

    indeed..

    W.... 1....

    İndeed🥰

  87. S.... R....

    What a song...

  88. K.... O....

    Fantastisk dejligt musik

  89. d.... e....

    gill i'm still with this nov 2019

  90. P.... J....

    Just a classic!

  91. P.... L....

    love this group. one of the best of the 70s.

  92. W.... G....

    Love it!!! The music of the 60's and 70's was exciting.

  93. S.... R....

    oh god i am still liveing

  94. t.... p....

    Sad, don't even have pay phones!! Trip down memory lane...

    t.... p....

    There is ONE still in my town, it's only about 1/2 mile from home next to a laundry, I've never seen anyone using it.

    t.... p....

    @butchtropic your lucky, my town doesn't...

    t.... p....

    @truth prevails Meh, not a huge loss, I'm surprised any are still around to be honest.

  95. J.... H....

    " " kurz und bündig und sehr, sehr vielsagend ! "

  96. d.... v....

    Semplicemente meravigliosi

  97. t.... g....

    November 2019

  98. m.... m....

    My m8 has a mother in law called Silvia he has the same problems I speak the truth

  99. H.... G....

    Hi solch eine Musik solch ein Lied das waren / sind unsere Jugend Helden unvergesslich 🙌🙌🙌

    H.... G....

    das Lied ist ausgezeichnet!