Don’t have an account?   The lyrics tell the story in much the same way: a man, despondent after learning that Sylvia, with whom he had an earlier relationship, is leaving town, tries to telephone her to say one last 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 Web. The whole song is a conversation between the suitor and the girl's mother. However, Sylvia's mother (Mrs. Avery) tells him that Sylvia is engaged to be married, and is trying to start a new life in Galveston. Non-lyrical content copyright 1999-2020 SongMeanings, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display, Sylvia's mother says "Sylvia's busy, too busy to come to the phone". About Sylvia's Mother "Sylvia's Mother" is a 1972 single by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show and the group's first hit song. Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's hurrying, she's catching the nine o'clock train. Sylvia's Mother" is autobiographical, with songwriter Shel Silverstein drawing upon his unsuccessful attempt to revive a failed relationship. She asks the man not to say anything to her because she might start crying and want … It spent 3 weeks at #1 on the Australian music charts, making it the 15th ranked single in Australia for 1972; and also reached #1 in South Africa, where it was the 3rd ranked song for the year. A Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's trying to start a new life of her own. A Dutch version of the song, named 'Sylvia's Moeder", is played by Dutch group Drukwerk. Then she says "sir won't you come back again" to the caller. "Sylvia's Mother" is a 1972 single by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show and the group's first hit song. Lyrics.com. Silversteen told Rolling Stone in 1972: "I just changed the last name, not to protect the innocent, but because it didn't fit. I imagine him standing at a pay phone, digging into his pockets for more coins, as he desperately tries to talk to his love before she leaves town.   The pathos lies in the singer's awareness that Sylvia is right there with her mother, Sylvia being unaware that he is the man on the phone. General CommentIn this song, you feel the frustration of a guy who wants to have one last conversation with his old girlfriend but is stymied by Sylvia's mother. Explore 6 meanings or write yours. 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 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?' It’s super easy, we promise! In 1972, about the same time the Dr. Hook version was on the chart, country singer Bobby Bare recorded a cover version. Think you know music?   Sylvia's Mother Lyrics: 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 The lyrics tell the story in much the same way: a man, despondent after learning that Sylvia, with whom he had an earlier relationship, is leaving town, tries to telephone her to say one last goodbye. It appeared on the group's first album, Dr. Hook. It was written by Shel Silverstein, produced by Ron Haffkine and was highly successful in the United States, reaching #5 on the Billboard singles chart (tied with "Sexy Eyes" from the album Sometimes You Win for the band's best performing song),[1] as well as #1 in Ireland and #2 in the United Kingdom. Find more of Dr. Hook lyrics. Throughout the phone conversation, an operator interrupts to ask for more money ("40 cents more for the next three minutes") to continue the call. STANDS4 LLC, 2020. 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. Original lyrics of Sylvia's Mother song by Dr. Hook. It happened about eight years ago and was pretty much the way it was in the song. "Sylvia's Mother" is a 1972 single by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show and the group's first hit song. A French version of the song, named "Le père de Sylvia", is sung by the french singer Sacha Distel, New Tendencies in Mexican Art: The 1990s, page 11, by Ruben Gallo, Age of discrepancies, page 31, by Olivier Debroise, "Go-Set Australian charts - 22 July 1972", "Cinco continentes y una ciudad - Curators", "Sylvia's Mother - Dr Hook & The Medicine Show", "Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show - Sylvia's Mother", "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 17, 1972", "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 30, 1972", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sylvia%27s_Mother&oldid=960046948, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, A sequel titled "Mrs. Avery" has been written and performed by British folk rockers, This page was last edited on 31 May 2020, at 21:24. Test your MusicIQ here! It spent 3 weeks at #1 on the Australian music charts,[2] making it the 15th ranked single in Australia for 1972; and also reached #1 in South Africa, where it was the 3rd ranked song for the year. A Croatian version of the song, named "Silvija", is played by popular Croatian singer Dražen Zečić. And in my opinion, thats what helps make it such a great song, rather than a good song. "Sylvia's Mother" is a 1972 single by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show and the group's first hit song. https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/14303995/Dr.+Hook. Sylvia’s Mother / Dr. Hook Voice: Capo: D/7 G/10 Tempo: Key: A Note: Ver 1.0 < intro > A A E Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's busy, too busy to come to the phone Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's packing, she's going to be leaving today. Watch official video, print or download text in PDF. It was written by Shel Silverstein, produced by Ron Haffkine and was highly successful in the United States, reaching #5 on the Billboard singles chart (tied with "Sexy Eyes" from the album Sometimes You Win for the band's best performing song), as well as #1 in Ireland and #2 in the United Kingdom. more », FAVORITE We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly. As it turns out, that song is based on a true story from Shel Silverstein's life. (1 fan), Sheet Music  It was Dennis who sang their first big hit, Sylvia's Mother. Song MeaningSylia's mother has kept him talking while Sylvia gets ready and then leaves the house to catch the 9 o' clock train. . "Sylvia's Mother" is autobiographical, with songwriter Shel Silverstein drawing upon his unsuccessful attempt to revive a failed relationship. It appeared on the group's first album, Dr. Hook. Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web! Silverstein had been in love with a woman named Sylvia Pandolfi, but she would later be engaged to another man. 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that October. Bare's version became a hit, reaching No. 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 … This is especially poignant near the end of the song, when the mother tells him "thank you for calling and, sir, … Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web! Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. Playlist. Silverstein had been in love with a woman named Sylvia Pandolfi, but she would later become engaged to another man and end up as a museum curator at the Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil, Mexico City. However, Sylvia's mother (Mrs. Avery) tells him that Sylvia is engaged to be married, and is trying to start a new life in Galveston. And the operator says, '40 cents more for the next 3 minutes' Please Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her One of his last hit records during his stay at Mercury Records, "Sylvia's Mother" became the first of many Silverstein-penned songs Bare had success with, and would foreshadow both an entire album dedicated to Silverstein-penned songs (1973's Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends and Lies) and hit records written by Silverstein, including "Marie Laveau," "The Winner," "Rosalie's Good Eats Café", "The Mermaid", "Warm and Free" and others. It was written by Shel Silverstein, produced by Ron Haffkine and was highly successful in the United States, reaching #5 on the Billboard singles chart (tied with "Sexy Eyes" from the album Sometimes You Win for the band's best performing song), as well as #1 in Ireland and #2 in the United Kingdom. [4], Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show – Sylvia's Mother.