In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Operator, well could you help me place this call?
See, the number on the matchbook is old and faded
She's living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray
A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated
Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show
I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels
Operator, well could you help me place this call?
Well, I can't read the number that you just gave me
There's something in my eyes, you know it happens every time
I think about a love that I thought would save me
Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show
I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels
No, no, no, no - that's not the way it feels
Operator, well let's forget about this call
There's no one there I really wanted to talk to
Thank you for your time, ah, you've been so much more than kind
And you can keep the dime
Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show
I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels
See, the number on the matchbook is old and faded
She's living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray
A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated
Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show
I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels
Operator, well could you help me place this call?
Well, I can't read the number that you just gave me
There's something in my eyes, you know it happens every time
I think about a love that I thought would save me
Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show
I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels
No, no, no, no - that's not the way it feels
Operator, well let's forget about this call
There's no one there I really wanted to talk to
Thank you for your time, ah, you've been so much more than kind
And you can keep the dime
Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show
I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels
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It is about a man, and his girlfriend went and lived with his ex best friend. Ray was his best friend, but then his girlfriend and ray started dating, so they arent friends anymore. And the man also just wants to call her and tell her that he is doing fine now.
(There's something in my eye You know it happens every time I think about the love that I thought would save me)
He is crying when he is thinking about her.
I think we've all had this feeling. You really do want to talk to someone, to just say you're okay. Then you just say "Ah forget it."
A lot of people dont know what they are talking about. This song is an autobiographical one about Croce when he was stationed overseas early in his life. He called his gf to check on her and found out the news. He then proceeded to write this song about it. And ray is the best friend and "something in my eye" is indeed tears. Croce ended up marrying his wife later on and died in that fatal plane crash soon after. This is one of his greatest songs.
In an interview, his wife stated that he wrote this song while at fort bragg, NC. She said he would stand in line everyday and hear guys around him finding out that their wives/ girlfriends back home had been untrue or were moving on. Think that was a VH1 thing back in the day that I saw this.
Too bad Croce died in an air plane crash.Thanks for the info.
So many good things about this song. Of course it resonates with people but the subtle phrasing is great.
It seems like he relies on the operator, a total stranger to talk about his problem. I'm sure more than a few real operators have had such confessionals and it also seems common for someone who has had their heart broken to go babbling about it to anyone who will listen. Kind of pathetic but he knows it but what can he do.
When he says 'See, the number on the matchbook is old and faded.' is really means that she's moved on and she is no longer at that number. The term faded is a good metaphor, as in faded memories.
The line 'She's living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray' says a lot about friendships and how a lover can bring betrayal and divide friends. Who hasn't lost a friend in some similiar way.
The line 'A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated' is telling. How often is it that two people start out hating each other but that that feeling masks a underlying attraction.
The line 'So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well' - he knows even in the song that he's lying to himself. This aspect of love reminds me an addiction like quitting cigarettes. I once tried to quit and wondered why I couldn't just have one more.
@jelaplan "...and sometimes hated" seems to be his naivete when it comes to people and relationships. He's on the outside looking in, and thinks he understands. Why's she with someone who she doesn't like? Why would she not be with me? completely missing the point that maybe she didn't like HIM all that much, either.
@jelaplan “ The line \'A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated\' is telling.” What I think he referring to is that his girlfriend, who lied to him saying she hated his best friend, was really attracted to him all along. The best friend stole his girl and he was betrayed by them both.
@jelaplan “ The line \'A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated\' is telling.” What I think he referring to is that his girlfriend, who lied to him saying she hated his best friend, was really attracted to him all along. The best friend stole his girl and he was betrayed by them both.
I have been in this situation many times before and that is the reason this song is so close to my heart. The lyrics and melody are beautiful and will remain timeless forever.
\//Peace
I think this song is about a guy that loved this girl, but she moved away and lived with one of his friends. He is trying to call her a tell her that he doesn't care about her anymore and that he's fine, but he can't even convince himself. "I only wish my words could just convince myself That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels." And then he starts to cry when he realizes she will never love him. "There's something in my eyes, you know it happens every time I think about a love that I thought would save me." Overall, a pretty sad song.
@mypointofview going through the effort to tell people who've moved on that it's YOU who is ok simply means that you're NOT ok, you just haven't gotten to acceptance yet.
You guys are all giving a lot of meaning to this song. So, ranceyoung, mypointofview, & jelaplan's interpretations are especially revealing, but so far nobody has mentioned the last verse...in this verse, he tells the operator what he would really like to tell his old lover, but is unable to do so:
"Operator, well let's forget about this call" He's telling his old lover that he's forgetting about their relationship and moving on.
"There's no one there I really wanted to talk to" He's convincing himself that he's over her and doesn't want her in his life any more.
"Thank you for your time, ah, you've been so much more than kind" Even as he tries to forget, he remembers the good times they had and realizes that she really did do a lot for him when they were still together, BUT...
"And you can keep the dime." Holding on to those memories hurts too much, so he's trying to throw them out, trying to get rid of any valuable sentiments that he may still harbor, so that he can move on, and maybe have some hope of getting over her.
For anyone who has reached this point in their relationship, these lyrics strike a deep and true chord. Incredible! Thanks, Jim.
@codecav Excellent analysis of a great song. I'm trying to get to the last verse right now as my ex and I go through separation.
@codecav Yes, the ending is pretty peaceful because he does realize he needed to talk to someone (not necessarily "her") to work out his feelings. He's better for it now and is appreciative of the operator who took the time to listen (and now is deserving of the dime).
Jim Croce was a great songwriter. This song has been playing all day in my head.
This is a great narrative song. The pain of betrayal that hasn't gone away after so long comes through perfectly clearly. The anger's gone, and that's left is grief.
This is the worst heartbreak song. By worst, I mean the best at tearing your heart-out!!!