Long Distance Call
Bo Diddley Muddy Waters & Little Walter Lyrics

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You say you love me darling,
Please, call me on the phone sometime.
You say you love me darling,
Please, call me on the phone sometime.
When I hear your voice,
Ease my worried mind.

One of these days,

I'm gonna show you how nice a man can be.
One of these days,
I'm gonna show you just how nice a man can be.
I'm gonna buy you a brand, new Cadillac,
If you only speak some good words about me.

Hear my phone ringing,
Sound like a long distance call.
Hear my phone keep ringing,
Sound like a long distance call.

When I picked up my receiver,
The party said another mule kicking in your stall.

Overall Meaning

The song Long Distance Call by Bo Diddley is a classic blues tune from 1957 that explores the ups and downs of a long-distance relationship. The lyrics speak to a lover who is far away but promises to call frequently to maintain the connection. Diddley pleads with his lover to reach out through the phone and ease his worried mind with her voice. He promises to be a good man who will make her happy and even offers to buy her a new Cadillac if she speaks well of him.

However, the song takes a dramatic turn with the sudden intrusion of a long distance call. As Diddley reaches for the phone, the ringing starts to sound like a warning of bad news. When he finally answers, the party on the other end delivers the crushing blow that someone has been messing around with Diddley's lover, sounding the alarm of another man kicking in his stall. This twist in the lyrics highlights the insecurities and fears that can emerge in a long-distance relationship, where doubts and uncertainties are amplified by the physical distance between the lovers.

Overall, Long Distance Call captures the pain, longing, and vulnerability that come with being far away from someone you love. The lyrics speak to the universal human experience of finding connection and comfort through a simple phone call in the midst of emotional turmoil.

Line by Line Meaning

You say you love me darling,
The singer's lover is verbally expressing their affection

Please, call me on the phone sometime.
The singer wants their lover to call them on the phone

When I hear your voice,
The singer finds comfort in their lover's voice

Ease my worried mind.
The artist is anxious and their lover's phone call helps them feel better

One of these days,
At some point in the future

I'm gonna show you how nice a man can be.
The singer wants to prove their worth as a partner to their lover

I'm gonna buy you a brand, new Cadillac,
As an act of love, the singer plans to purchase a valuable gift for their lover

If you only speak some good words about me.
The artist wants their lover to speak highly of them to others

Hear my phone ringing,
The artist's phone is ringing

Sound like a long distance call.
The artist thinks the call may be coming from far away

When I picked up my receiver,
The singer answered the phone