According to Songfacts, Buffalo Tom's name is derived from the band Buffalo Springfield and the first name of the drummer Tom Maginnis. The band epitomized the rise of indie guitar rock in the 1990s, but unfortunately they had only limited commercial success, despite the consistently high quality of their records.
While Buffalo Tom never 'officially' broke up, they took a seven year break, starting around 1999/2000. During that time while singer/guitarist Bill Janovitz and singer/bassist Chris Colbourn worked on solo material and other projects (Bill with his band, The Crown Victoria, Chris with former Fuzzy singer/guitarist Hilken Mancini). Drummer Tom Maginnis took up a day job in publishing.
In 2007 the trio began playing again and released an album of new material, Three Easy Pieces.
As of 2018 they are again active, touring behind their album released 3/2/2018, "Quiet and Peace."
www.buffalotom.com
www.myspace.com/buffalotom2007
www.billjanovitz.com
Bad Phone Call
Buffalo Tom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna draw you right in
I'll have my answer in the morning, yeah yeah
And confess all my sins
I've got the guilt of a father for you
I've got the guilt of the son
I've got the paper guilt of a spirit
I'll take a chance, I'll leave the light on
Until the lonely one
I'll leave the boxes on the kitchen floor
And then unlock the door
She is the girl right next door to you
With all the darkness inside
She pulls you in like a bad phone call
And you're left hanging on the line
And when these days are over
And when everything is gone
Even these memories and vague impressions of me
That's when I'll finally move on
I'll take a chance, I'll leave the light on
Until the lonely one
I'll leave the boxes on the kitchen floor
And then unlock the door
The lyrics to Buffalo Tom's song "Bad Phone Call" depict a sense of regret, guilt, and longing for redemption. The singer draws in the listener like a bad phone call, possibly indicating a bad or uncomfortable situation they want to get out of, but can't seem to escape from. The repetition of the phrase "I'll take a chance, I'll leave the light on" creates a sense of vulnerability, as if the singer is waiting for someone to come back, hoping for a second chance. The idea of confessing sins and having a "clean slate for everyone" suggests a desire for absolution, as if the singer is seeking forgiveness or a chance to start over.
The focus on guilt is particularly notable in the song, with the singer taking responsibility for the "guilt of a father" and the "guilt of the son". The suggestion of paper guilt of a spirit could indicate a sense of shame or remorse that is not tangible, but felt nonetheless. The character of the girl next door who pulls the listener in like a bad phone call further emphasizes the idea of being trapped, stuck in a situation that is hard to escape from. The final lines could be interpreted as a sense of hope that moving on is possible, even when memories and impressions of the past remain.
Overall, "Bad Phone Call" is a thoughtful exploration of regret and the desire for redemption, anchored in a specific image of being trapped by darkness and guilt. Through the use of repetition and specific imagery, the song creates a sense of emotional weight that resonates with the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna draw you in like a bad phone call
I'm going to seduce you with my words, just like a bad phone call manages to grab your attention and make you stay on the line.
I'm gonna draw you right in
I'm going to use my charm to lure you into my world, and get you to give me your full attention.
I'll have my answer in the morning, yeah yeah
I'll figure out what to say or do to get what I want, and I'll have it all planned out by the morning.
And confess all my sins
I'll reveal all the things I've done wrong, and ask for your forgiveness or understanding.
I've got the guilt of a father for you
I feel responsible for you, like a father figure would, and I carry the weight of my actions and their effects on you.
I've got the guilt of the son
I also feel like a child who's let you down, and who's now looking for a way to make it up to you.
I've got the paper guilt of a spirit
I have a sense of guilt that's not linked to anything tangible or specific, but that still weighs heavily on me.
Clean slate for everyone
I want to start fresh, and leave behind any baggage, pain, or regret that might be holding me back or affecting my relationships.
I'll take a chance, I'll leave the light on
I'll be open and vulnerable, and I'll show you that I'm willing to take risks and be honest with you.
Until the lonely one
I'll keep waiting for you, or for anyone who needs me, knowing that loneliness can be a powerful motivator.
I'll leave the boxes on the kitchen floor
I'll leave some of my belongings, or my past, at your place, as a sign of my commitment and trust.
And then unlock the door
I'll make it easy for you to come and go from my life, but I'll also make sure you know that you're always welcome to stay.
She is the girl right next door to you
She's someone who seems ordinary, but who's actually very complex, troubled, or fascinating.
With all the darkness inside
She's carrying a lot of pain, fear, or trauma, that she keeps hidden from others and struggles to deal with on her own.
She pulls you in like a bad phone call
She has a magnetic, addictive quality that makes it hard to resist her or break away from her, even if she's not good for you.
And you're left hanging on the line
You feel stuck, unsure, or powerless, because you're waiting for her to call you back, or to make a move, instead of taking control of your own life.
And when these days are over
When everything that's happening right now is just a memory, and you're looking back on it from a different perspective.
And when everything is gone
When everything you have, or thought you had, is lost or distant, and you realize what truly mattered to you.
Even these memories and vague impressions of me
Even if all I am to you is a faint memory or an unclear image, at least I had an impact on your life, and I mattered to you in some way.
That's when I'll finally move on
That's when I'll let go of my past, my pain, my guilt, and my regrets, and start living for the present and the future.
Writer(s): Buffalo Tom
Contributed by Harper N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.