Telephone Line

Electric Light Orchestra

About Telephone Line

"Telephone Line" is a song by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).


Year:
1997
37 

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Hello, how are you?
Have you been alright through all those lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely nights?
That's what I'd say, I'd tell you everything
If you pick up that telephone, yeah, yeah, yeah

Hey, how you feelin'?
Are you still the same, don't you realize the things we did
We did were all for real, not a dream
I just can't believe they've all faded out 
Of view, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh

Blue days, black nights
I look into the sky (the love you need ain't gonna see you through)
And I wonder why (the little things you planned ain't comin' true)
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight

Okay, so no one's answering
Well, can't you just let it ring a little longer
Longer, longer oh, I'll just sit tight
Through shadows of the night 
Let it ring forever more, oh

Blue days, black nights, doo wah doo lang
I look into the sky (the love you need ain't gonna see you through)
And I wonder why (the little things you planned ain't comin' true)
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight

Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight

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Electric Light Orchestra

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) are a British rock group from Birmingham, England who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. After Wood's departure following the band's debut record, Lynne wrote and arranged all of the group's original compositions and produced every album. more »

7 fans

Written by: JEFF LYNNE

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Origin
"Telephone Line" is a song by the British rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) which was primarily produced by Jeff Lynne.
Release Date
The song was released in 1976 and is included in the band's album "A New World Record".
Chart Performance
"Telephone Line" was a massive hit for ELO. It peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Song Theme
The song carries a theme of longing and regret, capturing the essence of a one-sided conversation with a disconnected telephone line.
Unique Instrumentation
The song is unique for its use of a vocoder to create the spoken sound effects on the telephone line part of the track.
Legacy
It is one of ELO's most popular songs and remains a staple in classic rock radio.
Song Structure
The song is noted for its melancholic tone and complex structure, which includes a classical-style string arrangement and multiple key changes.
Cover Versions
"Telephone Line" has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including contemporary punk bands like the Ataris.
Critical Recognition
Aside from commercial success, the song also received critical approval. It has been praised for both its haunting melody and lyrical content.
Song Inspirations
Jeff Lynne, the songwriter, said that the song was inspired by his homesickness while being in the USA and missing the UK.
Cultural Influence
The song appeared in the soundtracks of several popular TV shows and movies such as "Billy Madison" and HBO series "The Leftovers".
American Ringtone
In the American single release, the tune starts with a telephone ring whereas in the UK release it starts with a dial tone.

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    Telephone Line

    16.7M
    110.2K     3,774

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1977

    Billboard #7


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