Sylvia wasn't "hurting", she was "hurrying". She was catching a train to marry a guy in Galveston and her mother doesn't want her dissuaded by her old boyfriend. It's kind of sad. Love this song. Keep up the great reactions.
Good quick description. And it's also a true story. Written by Shel Silverstein, there is a short Doc on TH-cam about it....Dr Hook - Sylvia’s Mother | The story behind the song | Top 2000 a gogo. They interview Sylvia, and her mother
@@snwlcke3 The song was written by Shel Silverstein, the childs poet... He was the one laying in bed playing the harmonica. Sylvia ended up marrying a man from Galveston TX, they were married in, Mexico. There is a whole interview with Sylvia and her Mother. Sylvia is a professor at a college.
From Wikipedia: A man, despondent after learning that Sylvia, with whom he had an earlier relationship, is leaving town, tries to telephone her to say one last goodbye. However, Sylvia's mother (Mrs. Avery) tells him that Sylvia is engaged to be married, and is trying to start a new life in Galveston, Texas. She asks the man not to say anything to her because she might start crying and want to stay. She tells the man Sylvia is hurrying to catch a 9 o'clock train. She then returns to the phone conversation, thanks the (unnamed) narrator for calling. The pathos lies in the singer's awareness that Sylvia is right there with her mother, Sylvia being unaware that he is the man on the phone. Throughout the phone conversation, an operator interrupts to ask for more money ("40 cents more for the next three minutes") to continue the call.
Yes, the “Thanks for calling, Sir please call again” shows that at that point in their conversation, Sylvia is VERY near, and Mrs. Avery is going to great lengths to not let Sylvia know that it’s him on the phone. Very painful.
They have a bunch of great songs. "Cover of the Rolling Stone", "Carry Me Carrie", and the hilarious song "Freaker's Ball". My mom saw these guys in concert several times.
The whole 'Sloppy Seconds' album is great from start to finish. Sylvia's Mother isn't on it, but it's all Shel Silverstein songs and he was an amazing writer. Not a bad harmonica player either, judging by his appearance in this video. RIP, Shel.
So, not sure if you, as a kid read the "Where the Sidewalk Ends" or "The Giving Tree" but the fella playing the harmonica is Shel Silverstein. Who wrote the kids books, and wrote many of Dr. Hook's songs, and for other people too. he was an amazing person who did a lot of things in life. Very creative.
Don't forget the years of cartoons and short stories for Playboy magazine. An incredibly talented man who wrote hit songs all the way back to "The Unicorn" for the Irish Rovers in the very early '60s.
Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show is a great rabbit hole! I recommend "When You're in Love With a Beautiful Woman" or "I'm Gonna Love You a Little Bit More".
Dr Hook has some very good songs.They have that sound that makes you sit back and listen. "When you're in love with a beautiful woman","Sexy Eyes",are two of my favs.
Others have explained this well enough I think. This song and "Telephone Line" by ELO may be hard to relate to in the age of personal cell phones. Here the caller is calling the home phone of Sylivia and is at the mercy of her stonewalling mother. The main point of the song, whether or not Sylvia really is going to Galveston to marry some other guy is that Sylvia's mother (Mrs. Avery) is stonewalling the caller and not letting him get through to Sylvia even though we all know that Sylvia is actually there. The man is calling from a pay phone, so he's being interrupted every three minutes to enter another 40 cents to continue the call. The song is so heartwrenching. This is an interesting version of it, and the emotion is carried well. In the studio version, you can hear the increasing frustration in the caller's voice each time he says, "and the operator says another 40 cents more for the next three minutes" and the desperation in his voice each time he says "Pleeeeeeease Mrs. Avery." The cruelest moment in the song is near the end when Mrs. Avery says "Thank you for calling sir, and why don't you call back again." Which is obviously a politeness that she's saying because Sylvia must be right near the phone. We, the listeners never really know the truth about what Sylvia is actually doing, whether or not she is getting married to a man in Galveston, she could be going on a trip to see her grandma for all we know (If she's getting married, why isn't the whole family going, or as was the custom in the 1970s, why isn't the man coming to Sylvia's hometown to get married, etc)?, but for whatever reason Mrs. Avery does not want Sylvia talking to the caller, which seems to indicate that Sylvia has feelings for the caller and her mother wants to put the kibosh on that. Anyway, clever song, heart wrenching and yet, so 1970s. I can't imagine a song like this being a hit in any other decade.
Glad you provided this excellent explanation, particularly for the cell phone generation that won't understand the pay phone system or the escalating pressure it puts on the caller. I wish she would have reviewed a different version if this song as its a more playful version that loses the intensity of the released version.
Wow I love Dr Hook. Some Of Their Other Songs- Sharing The Night Together, Sexy Eyes, Cover Of The Rolling Stone, When You’re In Love With Beautiful Women & A Little Bit More.
Yes, Texas based song. This is a true story. There’s an article on the internet about the story behind the song. They broke up and she’s marrying a rich guy. Imagine going 50 years without knowing the story.
Song is basically about an interfering mother. The phone booth and the operator asking for 40 cents more, is a sign of the times. Long before cell phones, and a lot of young adults didn't have phones or couldn't afford them in their apartments, right away (or maybe lived in a rooming house).
Yes, that is crazy true, landlines were few and far, in the day. Remember this song so well. Young people today, have know idea about phone booths. Cell phones were nonexistant. Really brings back great memories.
Heh! I did this song at an open mic one night and I first had to explain to the younger people in the audience what a "pay phone" was how it worked. Man, the times changed so quickly.
I had a time limit on how long I could talk on the phone. We had what was called a party line.... A shared phone line with a stranger. It saved a buck or two a month. I remember talking on pay phones for hours.
Sylvia is taking the train to Galveston to get married .I Her mom says Every time you talk to her she gets confused and upset and decides to stay ! He says he just wants to talk with her to say good bye , but thats just to try and get past the Mom ! Anyway thats my story and i am sticking to it ! 😎
Shel Silverstine wrote this song and let Dr Hook record it . The song is is based on a real girl he was in love with, and a phone call he made to try to get her back, but the mother wouldn't let him talk to her. There is a video on you tube Where they interview the real Sylvia's mother , and Silvia herself. it was awesome for me, who grew up listening to Dr. Hook to see and learn the real story behind the song. It is such a sad song, and Dennis's sang with so much emotion, he is one of the most underated singers of the 70's era.
Sylvia and the singer had a rocky relationship but they loved each other. She's finally accepted a marriage proposal from another guy and is leaving town. Sylvia's mother is heartbroken over her daughters tumultuous relationship and is happy she's found another man. The singer calls to try and talk Sylvia out of leaving but her mom won't let him talk to her.
My wife and I have totally opposite views of this song. She says he sounds pathetic with the begging and she dislikes the song. I tell her it’s heartbreaking because his love is leaving, probably forever. I love the song.
I saw a televised interview with the actual Silvia's mother. She said that the song is true, mostly. Some embellishments were made for dramatic effect. The singer/songwriter Shel Silverstein was in a relationship with Silva and it fizzled out, like most do eventually. So Shel in a last desperate effort to rekindle the relationship called Silvia's mother, and we know what she told him, pretty much anyway. But Silvia's mother said that she liked Shel and felt bad for him over this.
There's a similar themed song to this one called "Operator" by the late Jim Croce. Of course dated since back in the 1970's one had to contact a Telephone Operator (by dialing "0") to make a long distance phone call via a land line and pay with dimes or quarters into a public payphone. The personal cell phone era didn't begin until about 1995 or so. (Just prior to that there were those big fat brick like mobile phones that could not fit in your pocket).
Life before the cell phone miss those days ! Sylvia's mother pushing her to get out the door ,before this guy gets a chance to complicate things ,and make her rethink about leaving !
Ok, this performance was on Shel Silverstein's boat (guy on the bed playing harmonica) song is the story of Shel's break up. Funny thing is the guys were completely wasted while singing, even in that condition they are amazing. Check out Carry Me from Shel Silverstein's boat, WOW!
Shel Silverstein wrote this about sylvia, a girl who he was romantically involved with in Houston. In the song, Sylvia's mother was the middle person. Talking to the ex boyfriend so her daughter wouldnt be tempted to stay in an unhealthy relationship with a man like shel. It's a beautifully written song thats been covered by Bobby bare, and even Bon Jovi. Dr Hook is overlooked to often. If people were to dive head first into their music, harmonies, abilities as mucisians, and songwriting, they would surely be more respected. To my knowledge, the only surviving band members are Dennis Lacorrie-vocals,acoustic and bass guitar, harmonica, songwriter/Jay David-vocals, percussion, and songwriting_/and Rik Elswit-vocals,acoustic,bass, and rythm guitar, songwriter
Many have responded but here’s my take too. Sylvia has a protective mother. She’s keeping the guy away from her daughter because she believes it’s in her best interest. We don’t know the details but Sylvia and he had a relationship or even marriage and are no longer together. Her mother does not think they should be together; maybe he broke her heart and her mother thinks he’ll do so again. Sylvia has “started a new life” and is happy and her mother doesn’t want him to interfere and possibly get her to be with him again. We don’t know his motivation; he just wants to “tell her goodbye” - he probably knows her plans. You can hear the pain, plea and desperation in his voice; this to me is the strength of the song - and he probably still loves her. I also wonder if he’s in jail or on the road, a drifter, since he’s calling from a pay phone.
Some heartfelt lyrics from the group that brought us Cover of the Rolling Stone and the ever important Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk. LOL They fit right in with the 70's-80's.
The younger generation might be confused with the "40 certs more for the next three minutes" line. Long distance fees were a part of life when this song was written but have gone the way of the Pony Express.
One year later May 3rd 2023 apparently you can still Google the songs all the information even the lyrics you can Google lyrics for songs. I remember when this first came out it was heartbreaking then still heartbreaking now. And I honestly do miss our old telephone system back in the days when people were actually happier instead of this instant gratification BS
Sylvia has been hurt by him and has found another guy in Galveston. The younger generation won't understand the operator asking for money. He's calling from a pay phone.
Sylvia is never getting the message from her mother that this guy is calling. Sylvia's mother knows that Sylvia still loves him will not marry this other 'fella down Galveston way' if she gets on the phone. For whatever reason, Sylvia's mother doesn't like the guy calling. So, Sylvia is going to marry this other guy without ever knowing the guy singing the song was trying to talk to her first.
There really is A Sylvia and Mom. Saw the mother (Mrs. Avery) in a music documentary. " Can't remember the name of it". It was interesting to get her perspective on the song and its author.
Sylvia and her Mom mrs avery actually existed,.... the songwriter wanted to talk to sylvia on the phone (landline and expensive) unfortunately got her mother instead who did not want her to talk to him as she was about to leave and get married to someone else.
This video was recorded on Shel Silverstine's houseboat. The song is the "mostly true" story of when Shel called his on and off again girlfriend, only to be told by her mother that she was literally leaving to get married in Mexico that day. Shel had been splitting time between the US and Europe and would hook up with Sylvia every time he was home. I do believe that the call for Silvia to take her umbrella is Shel's way of saying Sylvia's mom is crying. Having known Shel for a long time, maybe she always assumed he would wise up and marry her one day and was rooting for him, but he missed out.
Another part of this song’s back story is that its writer, the very talented Shel Silverstein, based this song on an actual “break-up” he went through, with a woman whose family says she dated Silverstein once or twice, but was never very serious about him. The mother of “Sylvia” (not her real name) says there was even a somewhat similar phone call-but that it occurred about a year after the dates the two went on, and months after Silverstein learned his ex was married. Still, the song doesn’t use real names, and works as fiction that’s loosely based on possibly disputed reality.
This was a true story. The guy that wrote it said that the mother kept acting like she was just talking to some random person on the phone so that Sylvia wouldn't suspect that he was calling. In the end. Sylvia left and married the other guy. And is currently living in Boston somewhere. ------ Oh....And , "Sylvia was hurrying." Not "hurting." -- By the way. I liked the way the guy with the eyepatch stomped his feet during the last stanza..... He actually passed away about a year ago.
The mother likes the caller. Sylvia met a new guy and was leaving to marry him. The caller is probably a military person stuck somewhere in war. Love the song.
It was written by Shel Silverstein, produced by Ron Haffkine and was highly successful in the United States, reaching #5 on the Billboard singles chart
The singer was sort of a "bad boy" who continued to break Sylvia's heart. She finally had enough and broke it off. Of course she still loved him but she had to break away and move on. The singer is pleading with Sylvia's mother, to tell her one final time, that he still loves her. Sylvia's mother knows that, (her mother loves him, too) but she has to protect her daughter from the pain. The song was written by writer, poet, author, playwright, artist, Shel Silverstein. It's a true story and an amazing song. There is a short documentary on TH-cam with "Sylvia"s Mother" telling the whole story. I hope this helps.
It is a song to be entertained through comedy by as he is so emotional about wanting to talk to her again. Take note it’s Dr. Hook and the medicine Show not Dr. Hook. When they were the show, they were comedians then he got serious and dropped the medicine Show. Don’t be confused. It is a.comedy.
Sylvia, years later in an interview stated that she was not in love with Shel, as a matter of fact she had no idea he felt the way he did about her. They basically just dated a few months.
This song is based on a true story of a friend and songwriter named Shel Silverstein and his ex-GF whose name (obviously!) was Sylvia. From Wiki: " "Sylvia's Mother" is autobiographical, with songwriter Shel Silverstein drawing upon his unsuccessful attempt to revive a failed relationship. Silverstein had been in love with a woman named Sylvia Pandolfi, but she would later become engaged to another man and end up as a museum curator at the Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil in Mexico City.[3][4][5][6][7] Desperate to continue the relationship, Silverstein called Pandolfi's mother, Louisa, but she told him that the love had ended.[8] " I'm a new sub and let me tell you, you're reacting to some of these music ever recorded!
The concept of the song was that his one true love was about to marry another man...but if he could just talk to her one more time, he believed he could change her mind...but he couldnt get past the mother on the phone - who wasn't going to tell the daughter he ever called, because she believed he was bad for her. She was heading out the door, to catch the train, and go and get married in another city.....he had to speak to her before she left, or he would never be able to find her again....it would be too late....But he was in a phone box running out of money to keep the call going....so he was against the clock for time and money....his coin was running out....it was no good arguing with Mrs Every, so he was pleading.....she was on the way out the door, and the operator was about to disconnect him......
One of the biggest "stalker" songs of my time was called "Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando and Dawn. A catchy tune but the message was one that would not do well in todays world.
The quintessential Dr. Hook song is "Cover of the Rolling Stone" because they were a great band, with music that still resonates today; yet to the best of my knowledge never made it to the cover of Rolling Stone.
Splendid reaction. The short documentary will explain Shel Silverstein true life reactions.Basically Sylvia didn't think of him as a serious boyfriend.
1st hear again! My favorite song by this group is When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman! That song had a kind of a Disco beat! This song is somewhat strange!
Great song but I think it hits you a lot harder with the emotion in the original version that has the slide guitar in it. Those long, drawn out notes of the slide really sets the song's tone.
Slvyias's mother doesn't want him to talk to her.She wants her daughter to follow through the plans of marrying. That's why her mother said Says SIR thanks for calling and want Sir won't you call back again.Sylvia's leaving and don't want her talking to her.
Sylvia wasn't "hurting", she was "hurrying". She was catching a train to marry a guy in Galveston and her mother doesn't want her dissuaded by her old boyfriend. It's kind of sad. Love this song. Keep up the great reactions.
Good quick description. And it's also a true story. Written by Shel Silverstein, there is a short Doc on TH-cam about it....Dr Hook - Sylvia’s Mother | The story behind the song | Top 2000 a gogo. They interview Sylvia, and her mother
@@snwlcke3 Oh, cool.
Yeah, right. Sylvia is leaving, and her sooner Boyfriend didnt had even a chance to say goodby. Really: I always shed a Tear when i hear that Song
The actual mother and daughter have a video on you tube and they describe the actual event.
@@snwlcke3 The song was written by Shel Silverstein, the childs poet... He was the one laying in bed playing the harmonica. Sylvia ended up marrying a man from Galveston TX, they were married in, Mexico. There is a whole interview with Sylvia and her Mother. Sylvia is a professor at a college.
I absolutely loved Dr Hook..the harmony was great and the lead singer's voice was fantastic...A great group !!!!!!!
They were so much fun live.
From Wikipedia: A man, despondent after learning that Sylvia, with whom he had an earlier relationship, is leaving town, tries to telephone her to say one last goodbye. However, Sylvia's mother (Mrs. Avery) tells him that Sylvia is engaged to be married, and is trying to start a new life in Galveston, Texas. She asks the man not to say anything to her because she might start crying and want to stay. She tells the man Sylvia is hurrying to catch a 9 o'clock train. She then returns to the phone conversation, thanks the (unnamed) narrator for calling. The pathos lies in the singer's awareness that Sylvia is right there with her mother, Sylvia being unaware that he is the man on the phone. Throughout the phone conversation, an operator interrupts to ask for more money ("40 cents more for the next three minutes") to continue the call.
Yeah- that's exactly what I get too... right down to the pathos. Um- snap? Peace.
Great summary!
Yes, the “Thanks for calling, Sir please call again” shows that at that point in their conversation, Sylvia is VERY near, and Mrs. Avery is going to great lengths to not let Sylvia know that it’s him on the phone. Very painful.
Wow that makes sense thank you
They have a bunch of great songs. "Cover of the Rolling Stone", "Carry Me Carrie", and the hilarious song "Freaker's Ball". My mom saw these guys in concert several times.
Don't forget "Penicillin Penny" or " Queen of the Silver Dollar ".
Or A Little Bit More and Cover of the Rolling Stone! C'mon now
The whole 'Sloppy Seconds' album is great from start to finish. Sylvia's Mother isn't on it, but it's all Shel Silverstein songs and he was an amazing writer. Not a bad harmonica player either, judging by his appearance in this video. RIP, Shel.
So, not sure if you, as a kid read the "Where the Sidewalk Ends" or "The Giving Tree" but the fella playing the harmonica is Shel Silverstein. Who wrote the kids books, and wrote many of Dr. Hook's songs, and for other people too. he was an amazing person who did a lot of things in life. Very creative.
He also wrote the lyrics to Johnny Cash’s hit “A Boy Named Sue”.
@@chrino21 Yep! There's a video of Him on Johnny's show singing it with him, or maybe another tune.
Don't forget the years of cartoons and short stories for Playboy magazine. An incredibly talented man who wrote hit songs all the way back to "The Unicorn" for the Irish Rovers in the very early '60s.
This song is an autobiographical account of one of Silverstein's failed relationships.
Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show is a great rabbit hole! I recommend "When You're in Love With a Beautiful Woman" or "I'm Gonna Love You a Little Bit More".
Dr Hook has some very good songs.They have that sound that makes you sit back and listen.
"When you're in love with a beautiful woman","Sexy Eyes",are two of my favs.
in between these two hits was another ....Better Love Next Time....... i know cos i have all 3 45's still
Others have explained this well enough I think. This song and "Telephone Line" by ELO may be hard to relate to in the age of personal cell phones. Here the caller is calling the home phone of Sylivia and is at the mercy of her stonewalling mother. The main point of the song, whether or not Sylvia really is going to Galveston to marry some other guy is that Sylvia's mother (Mrs. Avery) is stonewalling the caller and not letting him get through to Sylvia even though we all know that Sylvia is actually there. The man is calling from a pay phone, so he's being interrupted every three minutes to enter another 40 cents to continue the call. The song is so heartwrenching. This is an interesting version of it, and the emotion is carried well. In the studio version, you can hear the increasing frustration in the caller's voice each time he says, "and the operator says another 40 cents more for the next three minutes" and the desperation in his voice each time he says "Pleeeeeeease Mrs. Avery." The cruelest moment in the song is near the end when Mrs. Avery says "Thank you for calling sir, and why don't you call back again." Which is obviously a politeness that she's saying because Sylvia must be right near the phone. We, the listeners never really know the truth about what Sylvia is actually doing, whether or not she is getting married to a man in Galveston, she could be going on a trip to see her grandma for all we know (If she's getting married, why isn't the whole family going, or as was the custom in the 1970s, why isn't the man coming to Sylvia's hometown to get married, etc)?, but for whatever reason Mrs. Avery does not want Sylvia talking to the caller, which seems to indicate that Sylvia has feelings for the caller and her mother wants to put the kibosh on that. Anyway, clever song, heart wrenching and yet, so 1970s. I can't imagine a song like this being a hit in any other decade.
And Sylvia's mother says, "Thank you for calling"
"And, sir, won't you call back again"
Glad you provided this excellent explanation, particularly for the cell phone generation that won't understand the pay phone system or the escalating pressure it puts on the caller.
I wish she would have reviewed a different version if this song as its a more playful version that loses the intensity of the released version.
does not get any better than this....bunch of guys in the early 70's .sining the souls out...love it!!! I grew up listening to this.
Wow I love Dr Hook. Some Of Their Other Songs- Sharing The Night Together, Sexy Eyes, Cover Of The Rolling Stone, When You’re In Love With Beautiful Women & A Little Bit More.
Highly recommend this group...they were amazing and I always looked at the moon like the heart on their greatest hits cover
Dr hook knows more than Dr Fauci.
Don't forget, "Baby Makes Her Blue Jean's Talk"!!
@@dennisswainston411 yes Baby Makes Her Jeans Talk! I actually remember the music video.
A great Dr. Hook song is Sharing the night together, well worth a listen.
Yes, Texas based song. This is a true story. There’s an article on the internet about the story behind the song. They broke up and she’s marrying a rich guy. Imagine going 50 years without knowing the story.
The song was written the by the renowned author / songwriter Shel Silverstein, who wrote many of their songs, along with songs for others.
Song is basically about an interfering mother. The phone booth and the operator asking for 40 cents more, is a sign of the times. Long before cell phones, and a lot of young adults didn't have phones or couldn't afford them in their apartments, right away (or maybe lived in a rooming house).
Yes, that is crazy true, landlines were few and far, in the day. Remember this song so well. Young people today, have know idea about phone booths. Cell phones were nonexistant. Really brings back great memories.
Heh! I did this song at an open mic one night and I first had to explain to the younger people in the audience what a "pay phone" was how it worked. Man, the times changed so quickly.
You are totally wrong.
Sylvia's mother is trying to help, she's going to lose Sylvia too.
I had a time limit on how long I could talk on the phone. We had what was called a party line.... A shared phone line with a stranger. It saved a buck or two a month. I remember talking on pay phones for hours.
Sylvia is taking the train to Galveston to get married .I
Her mom says Every time you talk to her she gets confused and upset and decides to stay !
He says he just wants to talk with her to say good bye , but thats just to try and get past the Mom !
Anyway thats my story and i am sticking to it ! 😎
Shel Silverstine wrote this song and let Dr Hook record it . The song is is based on a real girl he was in love with, and a phone call he made to try to get her back, but the mother wouldn't let him talk to her. There is a video on you tube Where they interview the real Sylvia's mother , and Silvia herself. it was awesome for me, who grew up listening to Dr. Hook to see and learn the real story behind the song. It is such a sad song, and Dennis's sang with so much emotion, he is one of the most underated singers of the 70's era.
Sylvia and the singer had a rocky relationship but they loved each other. She's finally accepted a marriage proposal from another guy and is leaving town. Sylvia's mother is heartbroken over her daughters tumultuous relationship and is happy she's found another man. The singer calls to try and talk Sylvia out of leaving but her mom won't let him talk to her.
Another great song that hasn’t been mentioned yet is “A Couple More Years”.
wow the pain in his voice is amazing
Dennis Locorrier has such a great voice
My wife and I have totally opposite views of this song. She says he sounds pathetic with the begging and she dislikes the song. I tell her it’s heartbreaking because his love is leaving, probably forever. I love the song.
OMG your wife is stone cold. lol.
@@kennbo1 heartless
When your in love with a beautiful woman, sexy eyes and cover of the rolling stones are great dr hook songs
Haha this is the houseboat concert. They are all baked and still sing like this. Amazing.
I love Dr Hook.this is one of my favorites. Thx for sharing ♥
Thank you guys so much for explaining this to me. Now I’m even more upset because her mom is being a a-hole.
It was a happy ending...mom married him.
Sylvia's in Galveston with Glen Campbell;
There's a TH-cam video where the actual Mrs Avery is interviewed.
I saw a televised interview with the actual Silvia's mother. She said that the song is true, mostly. Some embellishments were made for dramatic effect. The singer/songwriter Shel Silverstein was in a relationship with Silva and it fizzled out, like most do eventually. So Shel in a last desperate effort to rekindle the relationship called Silvia's mother, and we know what she told him, pretty much anyway. But Silvia's mother said that she liked Shel and felt bad for him over this.
Dr. Hook “The Cover of the Rolling Stones” is another all time classic. Definitely worth a listen
On TH-cam you can check out Dr Hook - Sylvia’s Mother / The story behind the song and meet Mrs. Avery.
There's a similar themed song to this one called "Operator" by the late Jim Croce. Of course dated since back in the 1970's one had to contact a Telephone Operator (by dialing "0") to make a long distance phone call via a land line and pay with dimes or quarters into a public payphone. The personal cell phone era didn't begin until about 1995 or so. (Just prior to that there were those big fat brick like mobile phones that could not fit in your pocket).
It is very confusing when you first hear it,, then you get it! Great song, great pipes. I love your channel, I love that you really listen to lyrics
Love Dr Hook. Love You A Little Bit More is my favorite .
'A little bit more' was their best track I think - give it a listen Ang :) x
You can feel his pain in his voice.
PLEASE react to their songs “Sexy Eyes” and “A little bit more.” Oh my memories of those 2- Also HUGE hits of theirs! 💜👍✌️
Life before the cell phone miss those days ! Sylvia's mother pushing her to get out the door ,before this guy gets a chance to complicate things ,and make her rethink about leaving !
Thanks for doing this one, Angela, it is fun to watch you being all confused like!! You are now ready to try "Operator" by Jim Croce!!
Ok, this performance was on Shel Silverstein's boat (guy on the bed playing harmonica) song is the story of Shel's break up. Funny thing is the guys were completely wasted while singing, even in that condition they are amazing. Check out Carry Me from Shel Silverstein's boat, WOW!
there's a video here on youtube where they talk to sylvia and her mother.
Harmonica is performed by Shel Silverstien who is a author and friend of the band
Shel Silverstein wrote this about sylvia, a girl who he was romantically involved with in Houston. In the song, Sylvia's mother was the middle person. Talking to the ex boyfriend so her daughter wouldnt be tempted to stay in an unhealthy relationship with a man like shel. It's a beautifully written song thats been covered by Bobby bare, and even Bon Jovi. Dr Hook is overlooked to often. If people were to dive head first into their music, harmonies, abilities as mucisians, and songwriting, they would surely be more respected. To my knowledge, the only surviving band members are Dennis Lacorrie-vocals,acoustic and bass guitar, harmonica, songwriter/Jay David-vocals, percussion, and songwriting_/and Rik Elswit-vocals,acoustic,bass, and rythm guitar, songwriter
LOL. Old telephone related songs confuse kids these days. Operator? 40 cents? 3 minutes?
Telephone Line and Telephone by Beyonce and Shakira as well.
@@jacksonmorganfroghin4815 Lol. I'll assume you're correct, I'm so old I only know Beyonce from Austin Powers and I don't know Shakira.
@@robotto8858 I was wrong. Not Shakira. It was Lady Gaga and Beyonce.
There's another one. Telephone by Sheena Easton 1983.
I adore your reaction haha. You made me laugh. I'm like.... hey yeah, I never really listened to the lyrics for the past 45 years. 😂🇨🇦💚
Exactly! You're right Angela. What the hell is up with that girl? Ayyyy… A crazy head that doesn't clear up and uses her own mother as gatekeeper!! 😂😂
Cover of the Rolling Stone (magazine) by Dr Hook & The Medicine Show
What a voice!
Many have responded but here’s my take too.
Sylvia has a protective mother. She’s keeping the guy away from her daughter because she believes it’s in her best interest. We don’t know the details but Sylvia and he had a relationship or even marriage and are no longer together. Her mother does not think they should be together; maybe he broke her heart and her mother thinks he’ll do so again. Sylvia has “started a new life” and is happy and her mother doesn’t want him to interfere and possibly get her to be with him again. We don’t know his motivation; he just wants to “tell her goodbye” - he probably knows her plans. You can hear the pain, plea and desperation in his voice; this to me is the strength of the song - and he probably still loves her. I also wonder if he’s in jail or on the road, a drifter, since he’s calling from a pay phone.
Fun to see music we listen to back in the 70`s in Norway 😎🤗
Sylvia is the mother and he wants to speak to her daughter.
Some heartfelt lyrics from the group that brought us Cover of the Rolling Stone and the ever important Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk. LOL They fit right in with the 70's-80's.
Sylvia's mother doesn't want him around.
"baby makes her blue jeans talk" is a good one - PEACE LOVE n HIPPYNESS ✌☮
The younger generation might be confused with the "40 certs more for the next three minutes" line. Long distance fees were a part of life when this song was written but have gone the way of the Pony Express.
As the song is about a true incident, there is a very good documentary on it by TOP2000, where they actually interview Sylvias Mother. Ist's in TH-cam
One year later May 3rd 2023 apparently you can still Google the songs all the information even the lyrics you can Google lyrics for songs. I remember when this first came out it was heartbreaking then still heartbreaking now. And I honestly do miss our old telephone system back in the days when people were actually happier instead of this instant gratification BS
Sylvia has been hurt by him and has found another guy in Galveston. The younger generation won't understand the operator asking for money. He's calling from a pay phone.
This song still makes me cry. Her mom had the control
Dr. Hook, „ On the Cover of the Rolling Stone“ is a really fun one! You may like to listen to that one.
I grew up on Dr. Hook. This is okay. So many better songs by them. "Penicillin Penny" (especially live) has to be my favorite.
Sylvia is never getting the message from her mother that this guy is calling. Sylvia's mother knows that Sylvia still loves him will not marry this other 'fella down Galveston way' if she gets on the phone. For whatever reason, Sylvia's mother doesn't like the guy calling. So, Sylvia is going to marry this other guy without ever knowing the guy singing the song was trying to talk to her first.
Of course, today Sylvia would have her own cell phone and mom would never know about the call, but this is 70s we're talking about. ;)
I wouldn't say the mother necessarily doesn't 'like' him - she didn't just hang up - but she doesn't think he's good for Sylvia .....
There really is A Sylvia and Mom. Saw the mother (Mrs. Avery) in a music documentary. " Can't remember the name of it". It was interesting to get her perspective on the song and its author.
Sylvia and her Mom mrs avery actually existed,.... the songwriter wanted to talk to sylvia on the phone (landline and expensive) unfortunately got her mother instead who did not want her to talk to him as she was about to leave and get married to someone else.
Exactly.
Great song, thanks for reacting 😀
This video was recorded on Shel Silverstine's houseboat. The song is the "mostly true" story of when Shel called his on and off again girlfriend, only to be told by her mother that she was literally leaving to get married in Mexico that day. Shel had been splitting time between the US and Europe and would hook up with Sylvia every time he was home.
I do believe that the call for Silvia to take her umbrella is Shel's way of saying Sylvia's mom is crying. Having known Shel for a long time, maybe she always assumed he would wise up and marry her one day and was rooting for him, but he missed out.
Another part of this song’s back story is that its writer, the very talented Shel Silverstein, based this song on an actual “break-up” he went through, with a woman whose family says she dated Silverstein once or twice, but was never very serious about him. The mother of “Sylvia” (not her real name) says there was even a somewhat similar phone call-but that it occurred about a year after the dates the two went on, and months after Silverstein learned his ex was married.
Still, the song doesn’t use real names, and works as fiction that’s loosely based on possibly disputed reality.
Sylvia's Mother was keeping the man on the phone away from her daughter
Bingo!
This was a true story. The guy that wrote it said that the mother kept acting like she was just talking to some random person on the phone so that Sylvia wouldn't suspect that he was calling. In the end. Sylvia left and married the other guy. And is currently living in Boston somewhere. ------ Oh....And , "Sylvia was hurrying." Not "hurting." -- By the way. I liked the way the guy with the eyepatch stomped his feet during the last stanza..... He actually passed away about a year ago.
The mother likes the caller. Sylvia met a new guy and was leaving to marry him. The caller is probably a military person stuck somewhere in war. Love the song.
Its ok Sylvia will be fine Shes having a minute. :) LOL Another I love by them is "Baby makes her blue jeans talk".
"Cover Of The Rolling Stone", "Sexy Eyes", "Better Love Next Time" and "A Little Bit More". Just my favorites but they have quite a few great songs.
It was written by Shel Silverstein, produced by Ron Haffkine and was highly successful in the United States, reaching #5 on the Billboard singles chart
The point is Mom does not want her talking to him. Too late.
Just brilliant
and another Dr hook .. sweet
This vid you showed was done on his Houseboat with just the Guitar and Harmonica. There is one live on stage that is even bettew, if it can be better.
Recorded live on Shel's houseboat
Jason Michael Carroll - Alyssa Lies, Hurry Home, Where I'm From and Livin' our love song
The singer was sort of a "bad boy" who continued to break Sylvia's heart. She finally had enough and broke it off. Of course she still loved him but she had to break away and move on. The singer is pleading with Sylvia's mother, to tell her one final time, that he still loves her. Sylvia's mother knows that, (her mother loves him, too) but she has to protect her daughter from the pain. The song was written by writer, poet, author, playwright, artist, Shel Silverstein. It's a true story and an amazing song. There is a short documentary on TH-cam with "Sylvia"s Mother" telling the whole story. I hope this helps.
It is a song to be entertained through comedy by as he is so emotional about wanting to talk to her again. Take note it’s Dr. Hook and the medicine Show not Dr. Hook. When they were the show, they were comedians then he got serious and dropped the medicine Show. Don’t be confused. It is a.comedy.
Been years since I've heard this class
Sylvia, years later in an interview stated that she was not in love with Shel, as a matter of fact she had no idea he felt the way he did about her. They basically just dated a few months.
A nice bedtime story gripping from start to. finish…😴💤
This song is based on a true story of a friend and songwriter named Shel Silverstein and his ex-GF whose name (obviously!) was Sylvia. From Wiki:
" "Sylvia's Mother" is autobiographical, with songwriter Shel Silverstein drawing upon his unsuccessful attempt to revive a failed relationship. Silverstein had been in love with a woman named Sylvia Pandolfi, but she would later become engaged to another man and end up as a museum curator at the Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil in Mexico City.[3][4][5][6][7] Desperate to continue the relationship, Silverstein called Pandolfi's mother, Louisa, but she told him that the love had ended.[8] "
I'm a new sub and let me tell you, you're reacting to some of these music ever recorded!
The concept of the song was that his one true love was about to marry another man...but if he could just talk to her one more time, he believed he could change her mind...but he couldnt get past the mother on the phone - who wasn't going to tell the daughter he ever called, because she believed he was bad for her. She was heading out the door, to catch the train, and go and get married in another city.....he had to speak to her before she left, or he would never be able to find her again....it would be too late....But he was in a phone box running out of money to keep the call going....so he was against the clock for time and money....his coin was running out....it was no good arguing with Mrs Every, so he was pleading.....she was on the way out the door, and the operator was about to disconnect him......
Sylias leaving on a 9 oclock train. They broke up. The mother got involved and fucked things up. Just like all mothers do.
sharing the night together
Hook did a second part called Sylvia's Father. Very funny check it out.
Listen to the song again
One of the biggest "stalker" songs of my time was called "Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando and Dawn. A catchy tune but the message was one that would not do well in todays world.
The quintessential Dr. Hook song is "Cover of the Rolling Stone" because they were a great band, with music that still resonates today; yet to the best of my knowledge never made it to the cover of Rolling Stone.
In 1973 they did make the cover of the Rolling Stone, sort of... it was a caricature of the band. I wonder if Ray's mother got 5 copies.
Thank u😎✌
I remember my Sylvia😢😢
An era when songwriting meant something.
Splendid reaction. The short documentary will explain Shel Silverstein true life reactions.Basically Sylvia didn't think of him as a serious boyfriend.
I wonder how many of the younger generation will know that the 40 cents more is going into a pay phone. Are there any of those anymore?
Not that I know of. The younger generation doesn't know how good they've got it.
There's actually a video that features Sylvia's mother and Sylvia's account on what happened that day. it was a very true story.
Listen to " its all over now baby blue" by THEM or "the ballard of Lucy Jordan" by Marianne Faithfull ... both very special voices
When You're in Love With a Beautiful Woman is another one.
1st hear again! My favorite song by this group is When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman! That song had a kind of a Disco beat! This song is somewhat strange!
Great song but I think it hits you a lot harder with the emotion in the original version that has the slide guitar in it. Those long, drawn out notes of the slide really sets the song's tone.
"And the operator says "40 cents more for the next three minutes."
Now I ask you, "Where can you get those prices nowadays??" 🤨
Slvyias's mother doesn't want him to talk to her.She wants her daughter to follow through the plans of marrying. That's why her mother said Says SIR thanks for calling and want Sir won't you call back again.Sylvia's leaving and don't want her talking to her.