By The Time I Get To Phoenix
New York City Lyrics
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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'
By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'
She'll turn softly and call my name out loud
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
Tho' time and time I try to tell her so
She just didn't know I would really go.
The song "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Jimmy Webb, which was originally recorded by Johnny Rivers and popularized by Glen Campbell, is a tale of a man's journey from Phoenix, Arizona to Oklahoma while he reflects on his failed relationship with a woman. The singer of the song states that by the time he gets to Phoenix, his lover will have read a note he left, stating he is leaving her. This is not the first time he has left her, and he acknowledges that she will probably laugh when she reads it, as it has become a common occurrence.
In the next verse, the singer imagines that by the time he reaches Albuquerque, New Mexico, his lover will have called him during her lunch break, only to be met with a constantly ringing phone. It is clear that he is not interested in speaking with her, as he makes no effort to answer the phone. The final verse takes place in Oklahoma, where the singer imagines that his lover will be sleeping and will call out his name in her sleep. He acknowledges that she will likely cry when she realizes that he has left for good, even though he has tried to tell her many times that he would eventually leave.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the inevitability of failed relationships and the emotional turmoil that accompanies them. Despite the singer's best efforts to communicate his intentions to his lover, he ultimately realizes that there is nothing he can do to ease her pain.
Line by Line Meaning
By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising
When I arrive in Phoenix, it will already be morning as the sun rises. I had left a goodbye note on her door before leaving.
She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door
I left a goodbye note on her door to explain that I am leaving her again.
She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'
She will find my leaving amusing and not believe that I am truly leaving for the umpteenth time.
'cause I've left that girl so many times before.
I have left her so many times before, but she hasn't learned to trust me or believe that I will come back.
By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working
When I reach Albuquerque, she will be in her workplace and might try to reach me during her lunch break.
She'll probably stop at lunch and give me a call
She might try to call me during her lunch break, but I might not be available to answer.
But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringin'
If she calls, she will hear the phone ringing without an answer, as I might have left it unattended.
Off the wall that's all.
She will hear the phone ringing repeatedly and conclude that something is not right, but she won't know what is happening.
By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'
By the time I reach Oklahoma, she will be asleep and dreaming about us being together.
She'll turn softly and call my name out loud
She might have a dream and mention my name out loud, indicating that her love for me is still intact.
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
It pains her to think that I would genuinely leave her, despite my many promises and attempts to reassure her.
Tho' time and time I try to tell her so
I have reassured her multiple times of my love for her and that I would never leave, but she still doesn't believe me.
She just didn't know I would really go.
She never expected me to leave, but I am doing exactly that, once again.
Writer(s): Jimmy Webb Copyright: Jonathan Three Music Co.
Contributed by Juliana O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
david pinches
love it
fÊe Faiza
Awsm â¤ī¸đ¸đ
schukabaschaben**
đ...!
griffin johnson
0:50
griffin johnson
3:00