Wednesday March 23, 2022 “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” Jim Croce

Today's telephone song deals with the ubiquitous voice on the other end of phones from an earlier generation, the operator.

After struggling for years, arguably the worst tragedy that can befall an artist is to die in his or her prime, when you’re just beginning to break through to the mainstream and reach people on a national or international level. One such artist was Jim Croce, a songwriter with a knack for both upbeat, catchy singles and empathetic, melancholy ballads. 

Though Jim Croce only recorded a few studio albums before an untimely plane crash took his life, he continues to be remembered posthumously and appeals to fans as a common man, and it was not a gimmick… he was a father and husband who went through a series of blue-collar jobs before finally achieving success.

Croce’s debut solo album, You Don't Mess Around with Jim, in 1972 contained three top ten hits: "You Don't Mess Around With Jim," today’s "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)," and "Time in a Bottle," the latter ultimately shooting all the way to number one on the Billboard charts. BTW there’s some fine live guitar work in today’s video by both Croce and his accompaniest Maury Muehleisen who also unfortunately perished in the same plane crash.

Sadly Jim Croce’s career peaked after his death with “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” topping the charts just three weeks after the fatal plane crash. Several albums were released posthumously, most notably the greatest hits collection Photographs & Memories, which became a best-seller. Several other compilations were later issued, such as the 1992 release The 50th Anniversary Collection and the 2000 compilation Time in a Bottle: The Definitive Collection.

Stay safe and well…and listening to the songs Croce recorded, one cannot help but wonder how far his unique talents could have taken him if he had lived longer. 

Operator, well could you help me place this call?

See, the number on the matchbook is old and faded

She's living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray

A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated

 Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that

And give me the number if you can find it

So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show

I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well

I only wish my words could just convince myself

That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels

 Operator, well could you help me place this call?

Well, I can't read the number that you just gave me

There's something in my eyes, you know it happens every time

I think about a love that I thought would save me

 Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that

And give me the number if you can find it

So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show

I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well

I only wish my words could just convince myself

That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels

No, no, no, no - that's not the way it feels

 Operator, well let's forget about this call

There's no one there I really wanted to talk to

Thank you for your time, ah, you've been so much more than kind

And you can keep the dime

 Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that

And give me the number if you can find it

So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show

I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well

I only wish my words could just convince myself

That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels