About the song
“Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” is a poignant ballad by Jim Croce, released as a single on August 23, 1972. This song, part of Croce’s acclaimed album *You Don’t Mess Around with Jim*, quickly captured the hearts of listeners and climbed to number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December of that year, where it remained for twelve weeks.
The song is a touching narrative of a man reaching out to a telephone operator in a desperate attempt to reconnect with his former lover. Through the course of the song, the listener is drawn into a one-sided conversation where the protagonist seeks the phone number of his ex-partner, who has relocated to Los Angeles with his old friend. The man’s intention is to show them that he has moved on and is thriving, but his words reveal a different reality—he is still deeply hurt and unable to forget their betrayal.
In a heartfelt twist, after receiving the number from the operator, he finds himself unable to dial it due to his tears and ultimately decides against making the call. He tells the operator to keep the dime he had used to make the call, a simple yet profound gesture that underscores his emotional turmoil and resignation.
The inspiration for this song came from Croce’s own experiences during his military service, where he observed soldiers grappling with similar emotions while waiting to use public phones to contact loved ones, often after receiving distressing letters.
The song has been praised for its storytelling prowess, akin to the narrative style of fellow musician James Taylor, and has been described as a perfect match of Croce’s expressive voice to the song’s poignant theme. Notably, Croce performed “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” live on *The Midnight Special* in 1973, and it has been featured in live recordings on *Jim Croce Live: The Final Tour* and *Have You Heard: Jim Croce Live*.
Video
Lyrics
Operator, oh, 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
Guy, she said she knew well, and sometimes hated
But 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, oh, could you help me place this call?
‘Cause 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
But 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, oh, 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
You can keep the dime
But 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