Songwriter: Bob Dylan

Long-distance operator
Place this call, it's not for fun
Long-distance operator
Please, place this call, you know it's not for fun
I gotta get a message to my baby
You know, she's not just anyone

There are thousands in the phone booth
Thousands at the gate
There are thousands in the phone booth
Thousands at the gate
Ev'rybody wants to make a long-distance call
But you know they're just gonna have to wait

If a call comes from Louisiana
Please, let it ride
If a call comes from Louisiana
Please, let it ride
This phone booth's on fire
It's getting hot inside

Ev'rybody wants to be my friend
But nobody wants to get higher
Ev'rybody wants to be my friend
But nobody wants to get higher
Long-distance operator
I believe I'm stranglin' on this telephone wire

The Band

The Band was a Canadian-American rock group, consisting of Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm. The members first met when they joined Ronnie Hawkins' Ontario-based group “The Hawks.” After separating, they were picked up by Bob Dylan for his 1965 US Tour, and then for the 1966 World Tour.

Their relationship with Dylan helped the group move to New York, where they collaborated with him on music that would end up becoming some of the most sought-after bootlegs of the time; namely, the 1975-released project known as The Basement Tapes. They followed up these sessions with the release of their debut album, 1968’s Music From Big Pink.

They have garnered numerous accolades and critical praise over the years, including a 1994 induction into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and a 2008 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Rolling Stone magazine ranked them at number 50 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of all Time. Additionally, 1968’s “The Weight” was ranked at number 41 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.