By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Jimmy Webb Feat. Glen Campbell Lyrics


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By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising
She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door
She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'
'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 ringin'
Off the wall, that's all.

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




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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jimmy Webb Feat. Glen Campbell's song By The Time I Get To Phoenix tell the story of a man who is leaving his lover, and the emotions that he expects her to go through as he is on his journey. The lyrics reveal the complicated relationship between the two, as the man has left several times before. The song is broken into three distinct parts, with each verse taking place in a different city.


The first verse speaks of Phoenix, where the woman will find a note that the man has left for her. The note will let her know that he is leaving her again, and that he has done so many times before. This indicates that the man may have a problem committing to the relationship and may leave frequently.


The second verse takes place in Albuquerque, where the woman is at work. The man expects her to call him, but the phone will keep ringing off the wall. This suggests that the woman may have already sensed that something was wrong in the relationship, and that she is avoiding the call.


The third verse takes place in Oklahoma, where the woman is sleeping. She will call the man's name out softly in her sleep, and will cry when she wakes up. This indicates that the woman still has strong feelings for the man and did not want him to leave. The man acknowledges that he has tried to tell her that he would leave, but she just didn't know he would really go.


Overall, the song tells a sad and emotional story of a relationship that is coming to an end. It shows the complexity of the feelings involved and the pain that both parties are experiencing.


Line by Line Meaning

By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising
When I finally get to Phoenix, the sun will be rising over the city.


She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door
I left a note for her on her door, which she will find when she wakes up.


She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'
When she reads that I am leaving her in the note, she will laugh because I have said this many times before.


'Cause I've left that girl so many times before
I have left her many times before, so she is used to this happening.


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 might take a break from work for lunch and call me.


But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringin'
When she calls me, the phone will just keep ringing because I won't answer.


Off the wall, that's all.
There's nothing she can do about it and that's just how it is.


By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'
When I get to Oklahoma, she will be sleeping.


She'll turn softly and call my name out low
She will wake up slightly and whisper my name softly.


And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
Thinking about me leaving will make her cry.


Tho' time and time I've tried to tell her so
I have tried to convince her I will leave, but she didn't believe me.


She just didn't know I would really go
She didn't realize that I was serious about leaving her.




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, 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
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