Hanging on the Telephone Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I'm in the phone booth, it's the one across the hall
If you don't answer, I'll just ring it off the wall
I know he's there, but I just had to call
[Chorus]
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
[Verse 2]
I heard your mother, now she's going out the door
Did she go to work or just go to the store?
All those things she said, I told you to ignore
[Bridge 1]
Oh, why can't we talk again?
Oh, why can't we talk again?
Oh, why can't we talk again?
[Chorus]
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
[Verse 3]
It's good to hear your voice, you know it's been so long
If I don't get your calls, then everything goes wrong
I want to tell you something you've known all along
I'm in the phone booth, it's the one across the hall
If you don't answer, I'll just ring it off the wall
I know he's there, but I just had to call
[Chorus]
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
[Verse 2]
I heard your mother, now she's going out the door
Did she go to work or just go to the store?
All those things she said, I told you to ignore
[Bridge 1]
Oh, why can't we talk again?
Oh, why can't we talk again?
Oh, why can't we talk again?
[Chorus]
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
[Verse 3]
It's good to hear your voice, you know it's been so long
If I don't get your calls, then everything goes wrong
I want to tell you something you've known all along
[Chorus]
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
[Verse 4]
I had to interrupt and stop this conversation
Your voice across the line gives me a strange sensation
I'd like to talk when I can show you my affection
[Bridge 2]
Oh, I can't control myself
Oh, I can't control myself
Oh, I can't control myself
[Chorus]
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
[Outro]
Hang up and run to me (oh)
Hang up and run to me (oh)
Hang up and run to me (oh)
Hang up and run to me
Oh, woah, woah, woah
Run to me, yeah
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
[Verse 4]
I had to interrupt and stop this conversation
Your voice across the line gives me a strange sensation
I'd like to talk when I can show you my affection
[Bridge 2]
Oh, I can't control myself
Oh, I can't control myself
Oh, I can't control myself
[Chorus]
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
[Outro]
Hang up and run to me (oh)
Hang up and run to me (oh)
Hang up and run to me (oh)
Hang up and run to me
Oh, woah, woah, woah
Run to me, yeah
About
Genius Annotation
Blondie’s well-known version of “Hanging on the Telephone” by US West Coast power pop band The Nerves.
Like Aretha Franklin’s famous cover of “Respect,” Blondie’s version changes the voice of the original, male speaker to a female one. As a result, Blondie’s version inverts traditional gender roles and subverts the sexual double-standard that demonizes sexually assertive women while rewarding the same behavior in men.
The cover was released as the second single from Blondie’s 1978 album Parallel Lines, reaching number 5 in the UK chart in November 1978.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Hanging on the Telephone
- 3.Picture This
- 5.Pretty Baby
- 7.11:59
- 9.Sunday Girl
- 10.Heart of Glass
- 12.Just Go Away
- 16.What I Heard
- 17.Girlie Girlie
Credits
Produced By
Written By
Bass
Drums
Guitar
Keyboards
Mastered by
Engineer
Vocals
Recorded At
Record Plant (New York City, New York)
Release Date
October 30, 1978
Songs That Sample Hanging on the Telephone
Hanging on the Telephone Is A Remix Of
Hanging on the Telephone Live Performances
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