Telephone Blues
Angela Strehli Lyrics


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Hello operator
Can you get my baby on the line?
Hello operator
Please try to get my babay on the line
No I don't think I can hold on much longer
I'm afraid I'm goin' out of my mind
I'll tell you why
I woke up this morning
Chills were runnin' through my bones
Somethin' woke me up this morning baby
It felt just like chills were runnin' through my bones
It really hit me daddy
Am I gonna start every day of my life alone?
Talk to me baby

There I go Brian

Hello, hello operator
Can you get my baby on the line?
Hello operator
Please try to get my babay on the line
No I don't think I can hold on much longer
I'm afraid I'm going out of my mind

Oh no, I can't take it
I can't stand to see you ruin my life
Oh baby, I can't take it
I'm not just gonna stand by while I see you ruin my life




Don't you know I don't love no other man?
And I, I won't be no, no, nobody's wife

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Angela Strehli's song "Telephone Blues" depict a desperate plea for connection and emotional support. The singer addresses the operator, requesting assistance in contacting her loved one. She emphasizes her need to reach her baby, expressing her urgency and fear of losing her grip on reality. The repetition of the phrase "Hello, operator" showcases her desperate attempts to establish a connection and find solace.


The singer then reflects on her current emotional state and the events that led to her distress. She reveals waking up with an overwhelming sense of coldness that seemed to penetrate her very being. These physical sensations serve as a metaphor for the emotional void and loneliness she experiences. She questions if she will continue waking up feeling this way, emphasizing the gravity of her loneliness. The use of the term "daddy" adds an intimate and personal tone to the lyrics, revealing the depth of her longing for companionship.


Returning to her plea to the operator, the singer reiterates her desperation, expressing her inability to endure the current situation any longer. The repetition highlights her sense of desperation and urgency. She confesses her fear of losing her sanity, indicating the toll that the absence of her loved one has taken on her mental well-being.


In the final paragraph, the singer confronts her loved one directly, asserting her own self-worth and refusal to accept a destructive relationship. She voices her dissatisfaction with the way her partner's actions are affecting her life, refusing to passively endure the pain they inflict. She emphasizes her commitment to herself and her own happiness, making it clear that she will not settle for being any man's wife if she is not genuinely loved.


Overall, "Telephone Blues" portrays the raw emotions of longing, desperation, and a quest for personal dignity and fulfillment. The lyrics capture the turmoil of a troubled relationship and the singer's plea for connection and understanding.


Line by Line Meaning

Hello operator
I am requesting the assistance of the telephone operator


Can you get my baby on the line?
Could you connect me with my beloved?


Please try to get my baby on the line
I implore you to make an effort to connect me with my beloved


No, I don't think I can hold on much longer
I am uncertain if I can endure for much more time


I'm afraid I'm goin' out of my mind
I am fearful that I am losing my sanity


I'll tell you why
Allow me to explain the reason behind my distress


I woke up this morning
At the start of the day, upon awakening from slumber


Chills were runnin' through my bones
An intense sensation of coldness pervaded my entire being


Somethin' woke me up this morning baby
I was aroused from sleep by an unknown occurrence, my dear


It felt just like chills were runnin' through my bones
The eerie feeling I experienced resembled a freezing sensation in my bones


It really hit me daddy
I was struck with a deep realization, oh father


Am I gonna start every day of my life alone?
Will I continue to commence each day in solitude?


Talk to me baby
Please engage in conversation with me, my love


There I go Brian
Here I am, my dear Brian


Hello, hello operator
Greetings again, dear telephone operator


Can you get my baby on the line?
Could you reconnect me with my beloved?


Hello operator
Once more, I request your assistance, telephone operator


Please try to get my baby on the line
I implore you to put me in contact with my beloved


No, I don't think I can hold on much longer
I do not believe I can persevere for an extended duration


I'm afraid I'm going out of my mind
I am consumed by the fear that my sanity is slipping away


Oh no, I can't take it
Oh no, I cannot endure this anymore


I can't stand to see you ruin my life
I am unable to witness you destroying my existence


Oh baby, I can't take it
Oh my love, I cannot bear this situation any longer


I'm not just gonna stand by while I see you ruin my life
I shall not passively observe as you devastate my existence


Don't you know I don't love no other man?
Are you aware that I do not hold affection for anyone else?


And I, I won't be no, no, nobody's wife
I have made up my mind not to be a wife to anyone, no one at all




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SAUL BIHARI, GEORGE A. SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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