# Lovelorn guys on the phone **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 30, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307 "2025-06-30T16:08:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/21 "2025-06-30T17:30:09Z")
@Biggirl , you start the best threads!! Just had to say it. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/22 "2025-06-30T17:33:55Z")
Aw, thanks! \* kicks dirt \* ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/23 "2025-06-30T17:44:52Z")
“Hello?" “Yes, a collect call for Mrs. Floyd from Mr. Floyd. Will you accept the charge from the United States?” “Oh, he hung up. That’s your residence, right? Well, I wonder why he hung up. Is there supposed to be someone out there besides your wife there to answer?” “Hello?” “This is the United States calling. Are we reaching…” “See, he keeps hanging up, and it’s a man answering.” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/24 "2025-06-30T18:07:03Z")
From Vicki Carr, _It Must Be Him_: I tell myself don’t be a chump Who cares, let him stay away That’s when the phone rings and I jump And as I grab the phone I pray Let it please be him, oh dear God It must be him, it must be him Or I shall die Or I shall die Oh hello, hello my dear God It must be him but it’s not him And then I die That’s when I die I always giggle at it, thinking of the entry in Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs. “It must be him/or I’ll stick my head in the oven again”. And then there’s _Missing You_, John Waite: … Well, there’s a message in the wire And I’m sending you this signal tonight You don’t know How desperate I’ve become And it looks like I’m losing this fight … In your world I have no meaning Though I’m trying hard to understand … And it’s my heart that’s breakin’ Down this long distance line tonight Well, that’s just good stuff. 💔 ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/25 "2025-06-30T18:49:14Z")
Operator, the Grateful Dead Although whether the singer is lovelorn or not is unspecified. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/26 "2025-06-30T18:57:08Z")
Not sure what third party the singer is addressing, but some lovelorn guys can’t even bring themselves to make the phone call: _And I can’t dial the phone just now, even though I know your number Can’t bring my broken heart to be untrue Like you did today, you’ll say goodbye the same old way Ever since you hung up on me, I’m hung up on you_ - Fountains of Wayne, “Hung Up On You” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/27 "2025-06-30T19:00:12Z")
Yes it is. Love that tear jerker!! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/28 "2025-06-30T19:02:52Z")
“Memphis, Tennessee” by Chuck Berry (and a few covers since) has a separated father trying to return the call from his daughter. Perhaps not “lovelorn” in a romantic sense (after a lyrical fakeout) but obviously missing his girl. _Long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee_ _Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me_ _She could not leave her number but I know who placed the call_ _Because my uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall_ _[…]_ _Marie is only six years old, information please_ _Try to put me through to her in Memphis, Tennessee_ ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/29 "2025-06-30T19:20:33Z")
Tom Waits Martha “Operator, number please… It’s been so many years… She remembers my old voice… While I fight the tears…” ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/30 "2025-06-30T19:28:21Z")
Elvis Costello’s “No Action” may or may not be about a lovelorn guy: _If I’m inserting my coin, I’m doing just fine_ _And the things in my head start hurtin’ my mind_ _And I think about the way things used to be_ _Knowing you’re with him is driving me crazy_ _Sometimes I phone you when I know you’re not lonely_ _But I always disconnect it in time_ _There’s no action_ _There’s no action, there’s no action_ _Every time I phone you, I just want to put you_ _Every time I phone you, I just want to put you_ _Every time I phone you, I just want to put you down_ ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/31 "2025-06-30T19:48:13Z")
The guy who picks up when Biz Markie calls Blablabla is a unintended third party and there was definitely reason to declare lorn. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/32 "2025-06-30T19:54:38Z")
I wholeheartedly agree. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/33 "2025-06-30T20:21:00Z")
_You only call me if you’re feelin’ blue_ _You tell me I don’t pay attention to you_ _But if you only knew just what I’m going through_ _You wouldn’t phone those guys who mess around with you, girl_ -Back Of My Hand / The Jags ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/34 "2025-06-30T20:27:07Z")
Goddamn you for posting this an hour before I discovered the thread. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/35 "2025-06-30T20:42:48Z")
_I strut around the stage like a little king tonight They’ll scream for every word and every note, that’s right But when the show is over, and I’m all alone Can’t reach my baby on the telephone And everywhere I look, Mr. Loneliness is in the news I’ve got the Big Star Blues_ –“Nothing Ever Goes as Planned”, Styx ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/36 "2025-06-30T21:06:26Z")
Sylvias Mother by Dr Hook? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/37 "2025-06-30T21:19:38Z")
_Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone…_ ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/38 "2025-06-30T21:22:09Z")
Lol, I knew I woke up with Eve 6’s “Amphetamines” in my head for a reason today. _Of course the hardest part is letting go_ _But you’ve got to or you know_ _You’ll end up waiting by the_ _Phone me once in a while_ _Let me know you’re alright_ _Tell you again that I’m fine_ _Then we go about our separate lives_\* _Phone me_ _Tell me that you’re waiting_ _By the phone for_ _Me to phone you_ _Once in a while_ Etc. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/39 "2025-06-30T21:26:10Z")
_I call you on the telephone_ _My voice too rough with cigarettes_ _I sometimes feel I should just go home_ _But I’m dealing with a memory that never forgets_ You Better You Bet / The Who ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307/40 "2025-06-30T21:26:33Z")
That’s the one I was thinking of. Probably the archetype for the “modern” Country/Rock/Pop era. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FPBtqvljEFw/maxresdefault.jpg "Jim Reeves - He'll Have To Go") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPBtqvljEFw) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovelorn-guys-on-the-phone/1020307.md?page=3)