Written: Melendres Street, Las Cruces NM, 1976
A short story by J.D. Salinger called Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes inspired this song. In the story a man gets a call from a frantic buddy who’s looking for his wife, who hasn’t come home. The man, who is in bed with a woman, assures him that she’ll return and hangs up. Later, just when we’re feeling sure the woman is the buddy’s wife, the buddy calls again and says his wife just drove up.
A telephone rings in a darkened room
And a sleepy voice whispers “Hello.”
The clock on the dresser says two a.m.
The chair is covered with clothes
Then a cigarette lights up her face
As she cries into the phone
“Oh Billy I’m so glad you called me here
I’m so lonely and I want to come home.”
I can see it all right now
The way that she’ll come back to me
But is this the way it’ll be?
I think I’ll call her now and see.
A telephone rings in a darkened room
And a sleepy voice whispers “Hello.”
The clock on the dresser says two a.m.
You can’t see the chair for the clothes
Then a cigarette lights up the tears in her eyes
As she cries into the phone
“Oh Billy don’t call me here anymore
It’s late and I’m not alone.”
I can see it all right now
The way that she’ll come back to me
But is this the way it’ll be?
I think I’ll call her now and see.