By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Harry Belafonte Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising
She'll find the note I left hanging on her door
Oh she'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leaving
'Cause I've left that girl so many times before

By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working
She'll probably stop at lunch and give me a call
But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringing of the wall that's all

By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleeping
She'll turn softly and call my name out low
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her oh




Though time and time I've tried to tell her so
She just didn't know I would really go

Overall Meaning

The song "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" by Harry Belafonte tells the story of a man who is leaving his lover. He is traveling to different cities and states, and at each stop, he imagines what his lover is doing. The first stop is Phoenix, where he has left her a note but knows that she will not take it seriously, as he has left her many times before. He then travels to Albuquerque, where he expects her to call him during her lunch break, but he knows the phone will just keep ringing. Finally, he reaches Oklahoma, and he imagines his lover sleeping, dreaming of him leaving her. He acknowledges that he has tried to tell her before that he would leave, but she never believed him.


The song captures the feeling of a relationship that has reached its breaking point. The man knows that he needs to leave, but he is haunted by memories of his lover and the times they shared together. He imagines her crying and calling out his name, and he knows that he is causing her pain. However, he also knows that he has to leave, and so he continues on his journey.


Overall, "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is a poignant and emotional song that explores the complex dynamics of a troubled relationship. It is a powerful testament to the enduring power of love and the difficulties that arise when two people are unable to make a relationship work.


Line by Line Meaning

By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising
When I arrive in Phoenix, the sun will already be on the rise.


She'll find the note I left hanging on her door
I left a note for her on her door explaining why I left and where I am going.


Oh she'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leaving
She will find it amusing when she reads that I am leaving her once again.


'Cause I've left that girl so many times before
I have left her many times before without much explanation.


By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working
When I reach Albuquerque, she will be at work.


She'll probably stop at lunch and give me a call
She may call me during her lunch break.


But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringing of the wall that's all
If she calls me, she will just hear the phone ringing off the hook because I won't be picking up.


By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleeping
When I reach Oklahoma, she will be sleeping peacefully.


She'll turn softly and call my name out low
She will stir in her sleep and call for me, but softly.


And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her oh
She will be upset to think that I have really left.


Though time and time I've tried to tell her so
Even though I have tried to explain my intentions to her before.


She just didn't know I would really go
She did not believe that I would actually follow through with my plan to leave her.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Webb

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Frederique Roberge


on Angelina

What a joy to discover this site ..and relive that show , something so needed to end the day with a smile !

More Versions