Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - Sylvia's Mother

Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's busy
Too busy to come to the phone'
Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's tryin'
To start a new life of her own'
Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's happy
So, why don't you leave her alone?'

And the operator says, '40 cents more for the next 3 minutes'
Please Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please Mrs. Avery, I just wanna tell 'er goodbye

Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's packin'
She's gonna be leavin' today'
Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's marryin'
A fella down Galveston way'
Sylvia's mother says, 'Please don't say nothin'
To make her start cryin' and stay'

Sylvia's mother says, 'Sylvia's hurryin'
She's catchin' the nine o'clock train'
Sylvia's mother says, 'Take your umbrella
Cause Sylvie, it's startin' to rain'
And Sylvia's mother says, 'Thank you for callin'
And, sir, won't you call back again?'

      A canção, escrita em 1972, tem sido mais do que um momento de ternura à la 60's para mim. O diálogo entre o jovem, a mãe de Sylvia, o operator, a espécie de monólogo dramático com Sylvia que nunca surge no discurso, criam um dramatismo que ilustra as perdas da adolescência: o fim da infância, o fim dos amores, a escolha da profissão, os livros para ler, as obras para ouvir. Em todos esses momentos houve sempre um operator que me repetia "40 cents more for the next 3 minutes". Em cada um havia um sinal de imortalidade.