Hello, how are you?
Have you been alright through all those lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely nights?
That's what I'd say, I'd tell you everything
If you pick up that telephone, yeah, yeah, yeah

Hey, how you feelin'?
Are you still the same, don't you realize the things we did
We did were all for real, not a dream
I just can't believe they've all faded out
Of view, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh

Blue days, black nights
I look into the sky (the love you need ain't gonna see you through)
And I wonder why (the little things you planned ain't comin' true)
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight

Okay, so no one's answering
Well, can't you just let it ring a little longer
Longer, longer oh, I'll just sit tight
Through shadows of the night
Let it ring forever more, oh

Blue days, black nights, doo wah doo lang
I look into the sky (the love you need ain't gonna see you through)
And I wonder why (the little things you planned ain't comin' true)
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight

Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight


Lyrics submitted by Kenobi65, edited by benno118, Gruntcake

Telephone Line Lyrics as written by Jeff Lynne

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Telephone Line song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    Awesome song. I don't find it too depressing, though. On the contrary I think it's rather hopeful. Yea, his circumstance sucks, but he's not giving up which is half the fight. Also, while there are memories seemingly directed at an individual, in my mind they could just be generic impressions left from past lovers and the man is making a metaphorical/hypothetical/fantasized phone call to whoever will pick up and recognize that he still has something to offer.

    I like to see a lot of people with parents who got them into ELO. Makes me think I'm not the only 22 year old listening to these guys! :p My mother owned A New World Record when she was my age, but I found ELO on my own while downloading mad tunes in high school for my spiffy iRiver. Went on to buying their entire discography and have been listening to them ever since. Great stuff and really cool to see the band's dramatic transformation through the years from heavy prog-rock ala The Move, to straight up orchestral rock in Eldorado, to pop-rock as they started getting really popular, on to disco along with their decline in chart ratings and finally head first into synth-pop starting with Xanadu, but taking full force in albums Time and Balance of Power. Pretty wild stuff. Don't forget Moment of Truth, though! Breaking Down The Walls and Twist Of The Knife are freakin' raw. ELO Part II had some good stuff, but Jeff, where'd your painfully poetic touches go? They needed you.

    DamnUniversePoliceon October 26, 2010   Link

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