Intro: A 
 
A                                                            E 
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's busy, too busy to come to the phone 
                                                                A 
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's trying to start a new life of her own. 
D                     A 
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's happy... 
    E                       A 
So why don't you leave her alone? 
        E                     
And the operator says: "Forty cents more, for the next three minutes." 


   D                     A 
Please Mrs. Adria, I've just got to talk to her 
E                      A 
I'll only keep her a while 
D                        A 
Please Mrs. Adria, just want to tell her 
     E 
Goodbye...  
A                                                                  E 
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's packing, she's going to be leaving today. 
                                                                 A 
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's marrying, a fellow down Galveston-Way 
D                      A  
Sylvia's mother says "Please don't say nothing... 
    E                       A 
To make her start crying and stay." 
        E 
And the operator says: "Forty cents more, for the next three minutes." 
 
(Chorus) 
 

A                                                                        E 
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's hurrying, she's catching the nine o'clock train. 
                                                                         A 
Sylvia's mother says: "Take your umbrella, cause Sylvia it's starting to rain." 
    D                      A 
And Sylvia's mother says "Thank you for calling... 
       E                       A 
And so won't you come back again." 
        E 
And the operator says: "Forty cents more, for the next three minutes." 
 
 

(Chorus) 
 
Tell her goodbye 
Please, tell her goodbye 
Goodbye ...