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NIGHT CALLER

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.

 

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