Jeff Lynne's ELO - Telephone Line (Live at Wembley Stadium)

"Telephone Line" is a song by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in May 1977 through Jet Records and United Artists Records as part of the album A New World Record. It was very successful, reaching the Top 10 in Australia, US, UK and number 1 in Canada.

The ballad is track two on their 1976 album, A New World Record, and was the final single to be released from the album until September 2006, when "Surrender" was released from the expanded reissue of the album. It became their biggest single success in the US and was their first UK gold award for a single. With ELO's continuing success in America it seemed obvious to Jeff Lynne to use an American ring tone during the song. Writer/guitarist, Lynne explained:

"To get the sound on the beginning, you know, the American telephone sound, we phoned from England to America to a number that we know nobody would be at, to just listen to it for a while. On the Moog, we recreated the sound exactly by tuning the oscillators to the same notes as the ringing of the phone".

Lyrics

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'd pick up that telephone.

Hey. How you feeling?

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.

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 coming true.

Telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight

O.K. So, no one's answering,

Well can't you just let it ring a little longer longer longer

I'll just sit tight, through the shadows of the night

Let it ring for evermore.