Telephone

I called my mother on the telephone
Said "You think it's all right on nights when I'm home
"I sit in the dark and I kinda get stoned
"Just listenin' to the radio?"

She said "You're old enough now,
"I cannot tell you what to do.
"It all depends on what you're listening to."
I said "Spacemen 3, Primal Scream, and T Rex,
"Belle & Sebastian, and The Bunnymen."

When I was 22, I was a lot like you.
When I was 22, I was a lot like you.

I can hear her smile at the end of the line.
She said, "Son, you're gonna be just fine.
"But don't forget Bob Dylan, and don't forget the Stones,
"And don't spend Saturday night all alone."

When I was 22, I was a lot like you.
When I was 22, I was a lot like you.
I was high, I was high every night.

I called her again the very next night,
Said, "There's so few things in the world that I like--
"Just Carole King and riding my bike
"And sitting somewhere watching the world go by."
She said, "I'll say it again, though I've said it before,
"There's more to this life than the Stratford 4.
"But don't just take my word on it--
"You gotta get out and live a bit."

When I was 22, I was a lot like you.
When I was 22, I was a lot like you.
I was high, I was high every night.

I said, "Mother, I'm fried, I'm fucked, I'm tired.
"I've been out dancing almost every night."
She said, "There, you're on your own,
"But you'll always have the telephone."

When I was 22...