“Please Mrs Apricot?” – Sylvia’s Mother

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“And the operator says forty cents more for the next three minutes… Please Mrs Apricot, just gotta…” I sang in the shower a few minutes ago.

I laughed. Of course her name wasn’t Mrs Apricot but that’s how it has always sounded to me. It was the same thing last week when we had a small get together and everyone was dancing and singing to the music. Sylvia’s Mother came on and I sang out loud and plaintively, “Please Mrs. Apricot…!”

 

“It’s not Apricot!” said Henry, my brother.
“No, it isn’t,” the others agreed.
“What is is then?” I asked.
“Now let me think…” Henry answered (and he sang to himself just as Dr. Hook reached the refrain again).
“Mrs Abraham!” everyone sang.

“No, it’s not Abraham,” I insisted and I continued to stick with Apricot (much to the amusement of all).

After my shower I checked out Google for the lyrics and – what a surprise!- it’s not Mrs Abraham or Mrs Apricot. It is Mrs Avery! I think Mrs Apricot runs much better – it kind of goes with gotta.

I have pasted the full lyrics below for those of you who are interested.

Sylvia’s Mother – Dr. Hook

(Shel Silverstein)
.
Sylvia’s mother says Sylvia’s busy, too busy to come to the phone
Sylvia’s mother says Sylvia’s tryin’ to start a new life of her own
Sylvia’s mother says Sylvia’s happy so why don’t you leave her alone
And the operator says forty cents more for the next three minutes

Please Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her,
I’ll only keep her a while
Please Mrs. Avery, I just wanna tell her goodbye

Sylvia’s mother says Sylvia’s packin’ she’s gonna be leavin’ today
Sylvia’s mother says Sylvia’s marryin’ a fella down Galveston way
Sylvia’s mother says please don’t say nothin’ to make her start cryin’ and stay
And the operator says forty cents more for the next three minutes

Please Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her,
I’ll only keep her a while
Please Mrs. Avery, I just wanna tell her goodbye

Sylvia’s mother says Sylvia’s hurryin’ she’s catchin’ the nine o’clock train
Sylvia’s mother says take your umbrella cause Sylvie, it’s startin’ to rain
And Sylvia’s mother says thank you for callin’ and sir won’t you call back again
And the operator says forty cents more for the next three minutes

Please Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her,
I’ll only keep her a while
Please Mrs. Avery, I just wanna tell her goodbye

Tell her goodbye…
Please… tell her goodbye..

(c)1972 Evil Eye Music Inc.

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