Don't Call Us We'll Call You
Jerry Corbetta Lyrics
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Say hey, A and are this is mister rhythm and blues
He said hello, and put me on hold
To say the least the cat was cold
He said, don't call us child we'll call you
I said, you got my number
He said yeah, I got it when you walked in the door
Don't call us, we'll call you
Don't call us, we'll call you
I got your name from a friend of a friend
Who said he used to work with you
Remember the all night creature from stereo ninety two
Yeah I said could you relate to our quarter track tape
You know the band performs in the nude
He said uh huh don't call us child we'll call you
Listen kid you paid for the call
You ain't bad but we've heard it all before
And it sounds like John, Paul and George
Any way, we cut a hit and we toured a bit
With a song he said he couldn't use
And now he calls and begs and crawls
It's telephone deja vu
We got percentage points and lousy joints
And all the glitter we can use, Mama
So, uh huh, don't call us now, we'll call you
Listen kid you paid for the call
You ain't bad but I've heard it all before
Don't call us, we'll call you
Don't call us
Don't call us, we'll call you
The Jerry Corbetta song "Don't Call Us We'll Call You" is a poignant look into the life of a struggling artist trying to make it in the music industry. The song revolves around a phone call the artist makes to a studio, hoping to get a chance to show his talents. The artist is put on hold and is eventually told that they are not interested in him and that they will contact him if they change their minds.
The first verse of the song begins with the artist dialing the long-distance directory assistance number, and being connected to someone who identifies themselves as "Mr. Rhythm and Blues". The artist then proceeds to introduce himself and pitch his music, but he is put on hold for an extended period. When the person comes back on the call, they are cold and dismissive of the artist, telling him not to call them, but to wait for them to contact him instead.
The second verse of the song continues with the artist trying to make a case for why he should be given a chance. He mentions that he got the studio's number from a friend and that his band performs in the nude, but these facts ultimately do not matter. The person on the phone tells the artist that they have heard it all before and that they will contact him if they decide to use his talents.
Overall the song is a commentary on the difficulties that musicians face in the music industry. The song highlights the need for determination, perseverance, and patience in trying to make it in this world.
Line by Line Meaning
A Long distance directory assistance, area code 212
I am calling the directory assistance office in New York City.
Say hey, A and are this is mister rhythm and blues
I am introducing myself to the person on the other end of the line as mister rhythm and blues.
He said hello, and put me on hold
The person on the other end of the line greeted me and then put me on hold.
To say the least the cat was cold
The person on the other end of the line was not very friendly.
He said, don't call us child we'll call you
The person on the other end of the line is not interested in speaking with me and tells me not to call them, but that they will call me if they want to.
I said, you got my number
I ask the person on the other end of the line if they have my phone number.
He said yeah, I got it when you walked in the door
The person on the other end of the line tells me that they already have my phone number on file from a previous interaction.
Don't call us, we'll call you
The person on the other end of the line reiterates that I should not call them, but that they will call me if they want to.
I got your name from a friend of a friend
I tell the person on the other end of the line that I got their name from someone I know.
Who said he used to work with you
The person who gave me the name of the person on the other end of the line said they used to work with them.
Remember the all night creature from stereo ninety two
I reference a radio show that the person on the other end of the line may be familiar with.
Yeah I said could you relate to our quarter track tape
I ask the person on the other end of the line if they are interested in hearing my band's music recorded on a quarter track tape.
You know the band performs in the nude
I make a joke about my band performing without clothing on.
He said uh huh don't call us child we'll call you
The person on the other end of the line still does not seem interested in speaking with me and tells me not to call them, but that they will call me if they want to.
Listen kid you paid for the call
The person on the other end of the line reminds me that I am paying for the phone call.
You ain't bad but we've heard it all before
The person on the other end of the line tells me that although I am not bad, they have heard similar pitches before.
And it sounds like John, Paul and George
The person on the other end of the line is comparing my music to that of the Beatles.
Any way, we cut a hit and we toured a bit
Despite being rejected by the person on the other end of the line, my band has still been successful.
With a song he said he couldn't use
The person on the other end of the line previously told me that they could not use my band's music.
And now he calls and begs and crawls
Despite this rejection, the person on the other end of the line has now changed their tune and is begging for my band's music.
It's telephone deja vu
The situation feels familiar to me, as the person on the other end of the line is now interested in my music after initially rejecting it.
We got percentage points and lousy joints
Despite being successful, my band is not making very much money.
And all the glitter we can use, Mama
My band is making use of all the glitz and glamour that comes with being a successful musician.
So, uh huh, don't call us now, we'll call you
Despite their change of heart, the person on the other end of the line is still telling me not to call them and that they will reach out to me if they want to.
Don't call us
The person on the other end of the line is reiterating that I should not call them.
Don't call us, we'll call you
The person on the other end of the line is reiterating that they will reach out to me if they want to.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anonamust8697
What a fuckin' great song this is.
Were you around in '75?
Listening to AM Top 40?
And loving it?
If you were, I have treat for you--and I'm not kidding......
Visit the Billboard Hot 100 charts (available for FREE on the internet, on whatever device you're seeing this on right now), and start on January 1st, 1975--and then find the little calandar icon and click on it, and scour the charts, one week at a time. Even though there are 100 soings on each chart, reviewing the Top 40 is all you'll need to do (You can look at all 52 weeks of the year's charts in just a little while, if you want to check'em all out).
Do that, and then tell me that 1975 wasn't one of the best years ever for Top 40 music. Seeing those songs and their chart positions will bring back so many memeories, I promise you--and when I did exactly what I'm suggesting, I was blown away at how, week afer week after week, the songs (especially the Top 20) were almost ALL killer tunes that I loved. It was like reliving a total blast from the past--and I still listen to a lot of that music to this very day. For those of us who lived it and loved it, it'll never die.
Happy listening!
@anonamust8697
Mike Drown:
Yeah, and guess what generation was actually LISTENING TO IT!!
(HINT: MINE.)
I would have to wholeheartedly 100% agree with you that your age group born in the 40's absolutely made the best music of all time.
No other generation even comes close.
It's an undeniable, undebatable truth.
I could go on and on and on with examples that would have anyone who is dumb enough to even attempt to debate that point and who isn't either a complete ignoramous or who doesn't simply straight-up have his or her head up his or her ass eventually capitulating to the overwhelming truth of the matter, and shutting the fuck up.
And I understand all about subjectivity, but what we are talking about here supersedes individual tastes and opinions. I'm not saying people aren't entitled to those opinions; of course they are--but my point is that there's a COLLECTIVE reality that outweighs and overrides individual personal opinon, and you addressed that by hitting the nail squarely on the head when you pointed out that singers, songwriters, and musicians (to paraphrase your words) born in the 1940's made the best music of all time.
And now, of course, you're probably going to hate Part 2 of my statement (and probably disagree with it, too), but I am also 100% absolutely positive that MY age group who were teeny boppers in the 60's and 70's. and who grew up creaming our jeans over how good the Top 40/Rock/Easy Listening/Country/Jazz/Soul/R & B music that was all over on the radio was that your generation created, and who loved all that wonderful music that you guys made KNEW HOW TO APPRECIATE IT AND GROOVE TO IT IN A WAY THAT NO OTHER GENERATION COULD EVER EVEN HOPE TO MATCH.
OH, yeah.
MY generation.
We got to be tweenies and then teenagers to THE BEST MUSIC EVER. And there's something very very special about experiencing that. (Think of whatever music you grooved to during those years of your life yourself, and how you understand it all in a way that no other generation could ever understand your music the way that yours did. Be honest, because at the end of the day, it's another one of those undeniable, undebatable truths.)
You guys MADE IT (so, kudos for that), but we're the ones who ATE IT all up like candy--and no other generation ever matched our luck in having the greatest music of all time to sink our teeth into to do THAT.
And that's the God's honest truth.
So, as Latka on TAXI would have said (in that nasally accent of his).....
Thank you veddy much.
Sometimes (and in some ways) the world truly does belong to the young........
@Khultan
I've heard this on the radio back then but never seen this before. Wow, Wolfman Jack in there and dancing ♥️💯🎶🎶🎶
@brianking3898
What a voice!!!! What a band!! Awesome!!!!
@fenderstratguy
There's one line in this song I love absolutely to death.
It's the smart ass answer from the A & R rep when he was asked, "You got my number?"
He said, "Yeah, I got it when you walked in the door."
That dude was cooooold..........
@judystephens63
I caught that too, LOL
@tooterooterville
Yeah, I'm gonna use that line that somebody asks me (as long as its not a relative).
@anthonyromano1441
One of the finest vocalists, just a cool sound. Does it such a unique style. Unappreciated. Ck. Out green-eyed lady
@pantherplatform
Green Eyed Lady is one of my favorite keyboard solos ever. If it ain't got a Hammond in it, I don't want to hear it.
@harrykruger9888
This song was bad ass I remember it I Graduated in 1976 👍
@harrykruger9888
The class of 1976 Mitchell high school was trying to get the band to sing at our graduation but it didn't happen i was Is bummed out that would have BITCHEN to see them play.
@harrykruger9888
Love the BAND & I STILL LISTEN TO THERE MUSIC 🎶