Lyrics
"The number you have dialed has been changed or disconnected."
Tinny voice mocks, scathing.
I dial again—
slow, watching fingers arc clockwise,
each digit dropping back like a receding tide.
Coins clink.
Steady. Breathe.
"The number you have dialed—"
I hurl the receiver.
Leaving the bitch to finish swinging.
Those ten digits— thousands of times—
still answer in my head: "Hey, Baby."
I kick the booth.
Fists ball.
Glass glares staunch and hard.
It will not crack.
. Walk away.
I chant the numbers like a prayer.
No tears. Not this time.
Turn back.
[Verse 4] Rain on the booth roof
Counting now like station breaks
The operator murmurs soft
One last time my finger shakes
Tip the cups, both cold
In the cradle, plastic gone
Staring through the foggy glass
At the traffic moving on
[Chorus] Hey, baby, are you there
Or just a tone that's running dry
Hey, baby, I'm still here
Learning how to say goodbye
Hands don't tremble anymore
Pocket's light but I'm not poor
Every quarter spent on ghosts
Done feeding what I hated most
[Verse 5] He picks up on the third ring
Voice a stranger through the wire
"It's been years," I almost say
Then I let the whole thing tire
Cool air hits my face
Streetlights hum a steady note
Empty hands swing loose and free
First time I don't need to vote
[Chorus] Hey, baby, are you there
Or just a tone that's running dry
Hey, baby, I'm still here
Learning how to say goodbye
Hands don't tremble anymore
Pocket's light but I'm not poor
Every quarter spent on ghosts
Done feeding what I hated most
[Bridge] We both stand
In different rooms
Same old song
Different tune
He says, "Hello"
I just breathe
Hear the silence
Roll and leave
[Outro] Dial tone
Dial tone
Buzzing soft into the night
Dial tone
Dial tone
Nothing left to get right
Hang it up
Hang it up
Let the receiver rest
Walking home
Walking home
With my own voice in my chest