Leroy Van Dyke (born Leroy Frank Van Dyke, October 4, 1929 in Sedalia, Miss… Read Full Bio ↴Leroy Van Dyke (born Leroy Frank Van Dyke, October 4, 1929 in Sedalia, Missouri) is billed as "The world's most famous auctioneer".

He was catapulted into fame by his hit, semi-autobiographical, country music song, "The Auctioneer", in 1956 and has been a renowned auctioneer and entertainer since. "The Auctioneer", which sold over two and a half million copies, was followed by the 1967 movie, What Am I Bid, in which Van Dyke played himself as an auctioneer.

His next hit song, "Walk on By", reached number one on the Billboard Country Music Chart in 1961, and remained on the charts for 37 weeks. In 1994 Billboard Magazine designated "Walk on By" as the No.1 country song in chart history. Van Dyke had one more major hit song, "If a Woman Answers (Hang up the Phone)", that reached No.3 on the country chart in 1962, as well as having a brief presence in the UK Singles Chart the same year with "Big Man in a Big House".

Van Dyke's final two minor country successes were "Happy To Be Unhappy" and "Night People" (both in 1964). He also co-hosted a radio show called Country Crossroads with Bill Mack and Jerry Clower for a number of years. This show was produced and distributed by the Southern Baptist Convention.

Leroy Van Dyke continues as an auctioneer, musician and motivational speaker, although he has largely retired to his home state.

If a Woman Answers
Leroy Van Dyke Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Her arms are cold, but still she holds me to that vow
What once was, love is now a prison wall
And tho I break away to meet you anyhow
I've got to say, please remember when you call

If a woman answers hang up the phone
Don't take a chance please don't ask for me!
Yes if a woman answers hang up the phone

I love you but darlin' I'm not free

The chains that bind this heart of mine will never break
but they don't stop my heart from wanting you
I know that I should say don't call for both our sakes
But I just can't, so remember when you do

If a woman answers hang up the phone

Don't take a chance please don't ask for me!
Yes if a woman answers hang up the phone

Overall Meaning

The song "If a Woman Answers" by Leroy Van Dyke tells a story of a man who is in a loveless marriage but is having an affair with another woman. He knows he should end the affair and stay faithful to his wife, but he is unable to break free from his feelings for the other woman. The chorus of the song is a warning to the other woman, telling her to hang up the phone if his wife answers when she calls.

One interpretation of the lyrics is that the man is conflicted between his love for the other woman and his sense of duty to his wife. He feels trapped in his marriage but is also unable to fully commit to his lover. He is torn between two women and unable to make a decision about which one to choose.

Another interpretation is that the man is simply being selfish and irresponsible. He is cheating on his wife and not taking responsibility for his actions. He is asking the other woman to cover for him and not get caught, but at the same time, he is not willing to leave his wife for her.

Line by Line Meaning

Her arms are cold, but still she holds me to that vow
Although the love that once existed between us has now turned into a constraint, my partner still expects me to keep my promises.

What once was, love is now a prison wall
Our love has become a barrier for me and restricts me from being with someone else.

And tho I break away to meet you anyhow
Even if I manage to escape from this constraint, I still long to see you.

I've got to say, please remember when you call
I want to convey that if she calls and a woman answers, she must hang up the phone.

If a woman answers hang up the phone
In case a woman answers the phone when my lover calls, she should immediately hang up and not risk talking to anyone else.

Don't take a chance please don't ask for me!
I urge her to not take any risks and refrain from asking for me.

Yes if a woman answers hang up the phone
Once again, I request her to hang up the phone if a woman answers.

I love you but darlin' I'm not free
Even though I love her, I am not free to be with her due to the constraints of the relationship.

The chains that bind this heart of mine will never break
The emotional bond with my partner will always exist and never disappear.

but they don't stop my heart from wanting you
The emotional chains may exist, but they do not stop me from wanting to be with my lover.

I know that I should say don't call for both our sakes
I am aware that I should ask her to not call, keeping both our well-being in mind.

But I just can't, so remember when you do
However, I just cannot bring myself to ask her to not call, so I simply ask her to remember what to do if a woman answers the phone.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS