Long-Distance Operator

(album: The Basement Tapes - 1975)

Long-distance operator
Place this call, it's not for fun
Long-distance operator
Please, place this call, you know it's not for fun
I gotta give a message to my baby
You know, she's not just anyone.

There are thousands in the phone booth
Thousands at the gate
There are thousands in the phone booth
Thousands at the gate
Ev'rybody wants to make a long-distance call
But you know they're just gonna have to wait.

If a call comes from Louisiana
Please, let it rise
If a call comes from Louisiana
Please, let it rise
This phone booth's on fire
It's getting hot inside.

Ev'rybody wants to be my friend
But nobody wants to get higher
Ev'rybody wants to be my friend
But nobody wants to get higher
Long-distance operator
I believe I'm strangling on this telephone wire.