Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
Jim Croce
“Operator” was Jim Croce’s second single. It peaked at #17 on the US pop chart.
The song is about getting over lost love, and dealing with the blow of a breakup. Croce was inspired to write it while in the army watching service men lined up at an outdoor telephone trying to get ahold of their girlf...
[Verse 1]
Operator, well could you help me place this call?
See, the number on the match book is old and faded
She's living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray
A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated
[Chorus]
But isn't that the way they say it goes?
Well let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine, and to show
I've overcome the blow
I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real
But that's not the way it feels
[Verse 2]
Operator, well could you help me place this call?
Cause I can't read the number that you just gave me
There's something in my eyes
You know it happens every time
I think about the love that I thought would save me
[Chorus]
But isn't that the way they say it goes?
Well let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine, and to show
I've overcome the blow
I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real
But that's not the way it feels
[Post-Chorus]
No, no, no, no
That's not the way it feels
[Verse 3]
Operator, well let's forget about this call
There's no one there I really wanted to talk to
Thank you for your time
Ah, you've been so much more than kind
You can keep the dime
[Chorus]
But isn't that the way they say it goes?
Well let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine, and to show
I've overcome the blow
I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real
But that's not the way it feels
Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels) was written by Jim Croce.
Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels) was produced by Tommy West & Terry Cashman.
Jim Croce released Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels) on Wed Aug 23 1972.
Croce’s widows shared in The Story Behind The Song what he explained at his shows:
I got the idea for writing ‘Operator’ by standing outside the PX, waiting to use one of those outdoor phones. There wasn’t a phone booth. It was just stuck up on the side of the building and there were about 200 guys...