In 1992, she began to perform as a professional rock musician, playing in an all-female cover band called Lois Lane. When she started a band that played original music, Red Onion (Berkner, Brian Mueller, Adam Bernstein and Alan Lerner), she found song-writing to be a struggle--a problem that disappeared when she started writing children's music. "Writing music for kids has not been a struggle at all," Berkner has said. "The more I started working on material for children, the more I realized that it opened up creativity in me that I never knew I had."
She regularly appears on Noggin (with Lampert and Bernstein), a television network aimed at children, in music videos played between programs and on the program Jack's Big Music Show. Berkner has also appeared in Jamarama Live!, a touring music festival for children sponsored by Noggin, and in the 2006 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
In 2004, Berkner and Mueller had a daughter, Lucy, and the Laurie Berkner Band cut back on performing. "Daughter Lucy is her main audience now," her website noted.
Telephone
Laurie Berkner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You weren't home
I called you on the telephone, ring-a-ling-a-ling
You weren't home
Hello? (Hello) Is anybody there? (Is anybody there?)
Hello? (Hello) Nobody's there (Nobody's there)
Knock, knock, knock!
Then I knocked some more
Went to your house, knocked on the door
Knock, knock, knock!
Then I knocked some more
Hello? (Hello?) Is anybody there? (Is anybody there?)
Hello? (Hello?) Nobody's there (Nobody's there)
So I went to sleep and dreamed of you
(Zzzzzz... shoo, Zzzzzz... shoo)
I went to sleep and dreamed of you
(Zzzzzz... shoo, Zzzzzz... shoo)
Hello? (Hello?) Is anybody there? (Is anybody there?)
Hello? (Hello?) Nobody's there (Nobody's there)
(Zzzzzz...)
(Wakes up)
So I called you on the telephone
Ring-a-ling-a-ling
You weren't home
I called you on the telephone
Ring-a-ling-a-ling
You weren't home
Ring one time, BRRING
Ring two times, BRRING, BRRING
Ring three times, BRRING, BRRING, BRRING
Ring four times, BRRING, BRRING, BRRING, BRRING
Hello?
(Everyone saying "Hello!" and then "Bye!")
Laurie Berkner's song "Telephone" is a playful song about a child's attempt to communicate with a friend via a telephone. The song begins with the child introducing the communication device by ringing it and waiting for the friend to pick up. Unfortunately, the friend is not home, and the child leaves a missed call message. The child tries again and again, but with no success, they decide to physically go to the friend's house and knock on the door but to no avail.
The chorus of the song expresses the child's frustration in not being able to get in touch with their friend. The child is confused and can't seem to understand why no one is picking up. The only solace they have is when they finally go to sleep and then dream about their friend. The song ends with the child trying once again to contact their friend through the telephone, but they end up hanging up without leaving a message.
This song is relatable to children, especially with advances in technology and cell phones, where they experience missed calls or inability to get in touch with friends. It teaches persistence and creativity in trying to reach out and communicate with people.
Line by Line Meaning
I called you on the telephone, ring-a-ling-a-ling
I tried to call you using the phone, making the distinctive ring sound by repeatedly pressing the buttons, but you didn't pick up.
You weren't home
You weren't at home to answer my call.
Hello? (Hello) Is anybody there? (Is anybody there?)
I was expecting someone to answer the phone, so I said 'hello' twice to check if anyone is there.
Hello? (Hello) Nobody's there (Nobody's there)
But unfortunately, there was no one to answer the phone.
Went to your house, knocked on the door
As I couldn't reach you through the phone, I went to your place to meet you in person.
Knock, knock, knock!
I repeatedly hit the door with my knuckles to make a knocking sound.
Then I knocked some more
Since you still did not answer, I continued to knock on the door.
So I went to sleep and dreamed of you
I could not reach or find you, so I went to bed to dream about you.
Hello? (Hello?) Is anybody there? (Is anybody there?)
In my dream, I still tried to see if anyone is there by saying 'hello' twice.
Hello? (Hello?) Nobody's there (Nobody's there)
Unfortunately, even in my dream, no one was there to answer.
(Zzzzzz... shoo, Zzzzzz... shoo)
I fell asleep and started snoring.
(Wakes up)
Suddenly, I woke up from my sleep.
Ring one time, BRRING
I picked up the phone and dialed your number, making it ring once.
Ring two times, BRRING, BRRING
But you still did not answer, so I dialed again, making it ring twice.
Ring three times, BRRING, BRRING, BRRING
I tried again by dialing the number for the third time, making it ring thrice.
Ring four times, BRRING, BRRING, BRRING, BRRING
But yet again, there was no answer, so I dialed again, making it ring four times.
Hello?
Finally, after so many attempts, someone picked up the phone.
(Everyone saying "Hello!" and then "Bye!")
Everyone said hello and quickly ended the call.
Writer(s): Laurissa Anne Berkner
Contributed by Alice B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Xavier
on Lots Of Little Pigs
My favorite film is Raffi in concert with the RASB
Xavier
on Lots Of Little Pigs
I often play it in New York around the state line of New York and Vermont. In August 3rd I will be playing it in New Jersey.