There’s something in my eyes, you know it happens every time/
I think about a love that I thought would save me.

Jim Croce’s “Operator” might sound dated to some. It mentions a phone operator, payphones and a matchbook, which are not things that we really use that much these days. But the sentiment is the same as today. Croce is thinking about dialing up an ex. He found out his ex is dating his ex-best-friend. His roller-coaster of emotions is similar to what any of us today would experience.

Also, didn’t his ex hate his friend? Now she’s with him?

As he talks to the operator, he begins to tear up remembering the love that they once had. Midway through the call he begins to get second thoughts. What is he going to say to her anyways that doesn’t sound desperate? In the end he decides against it. He doesn’t call her.

Croce’s voice is smooth and comforting, and he effortlessly conveys humor and pain in the same song. The song is also a lovely example of a cross between folk and soft rock. Notice the dual guitars—both of which are finger picking. That is an amazing amount of sound coming mostly from two guitars and one voice. He is another singer that we lost way too young. It is sad to imagine all the music we missed out on.

Operator Lyrics

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.

written by Jim Croce

My soul slides away,
but don’t look back in anger I heard you say.

The narrator in Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger” passes Sally—his ex-girlfriend—and has a quick conversation with her.  She’s unhappy. It seems she regrets breaking up with him. He tells her to truly reflect on her life and things aren’t as bad as she makes them out to be. We don’t get many details.

She says she’s not the type to reflect on the past because introspection brings her to unhappy thoughts.

The narrator takes a brief aside to think about how much better his life is now—without Sally. Sally picks up on this, but she mistakes his emotions for anger and tells him “don’t look back in anger”. Most likely he is just looking at her with pity or sadness or ambivalence.

“Don’t Look Back in Anger” has a great melody and a great title– one that can be a lesson that we can all do to remember. Although Sally doesn’t do well to articulate why she is saying it, maybe every time you see an ex, it is a good thing to repeat as a mantra. The vocals are sharp and sound very reminiscent of the glory days of The British Invasion in Rock, though their sound is similar to their contemporaries The Verve.

Don’t Look Back in Anger Lyrics

Slip inside the eye of your mind,
Don’t you know you might find
A better place to play.
You said that you’d never been,
But all the things that you’ve seen
Slowly fade away.

So I start a revolution from my bed.
‘Cause you said the brains I had went to my head.
Step outside, summertime’s in bloom.
Stand up beside the fireplace,
Take that look from off your face,
You ain’t ever gonna burn my heart out.

And so Sally can wait,
She knows it’s too late,
As we’re walking on by.
Her soul slides away.
But “Don’t look back in anger”,
I heard you say.

Take me to the place where you go
Where nobody knows,
If it’s night or day.
But please don’t put your life in the hands
Of a rock and roll band,
Who’ll throw it all away.

I’m gonna start a revolution from my bed.
‘Cause you said the brains I had went to my head.
Step outside ’cause summertime’s in bloom.
Stand up beside the fireplace,
Take that look from off your face,
‘Cause you ain’t ever gonna burn my heart out.

And so Sally can wait,
She knows it’s too late,
As she’s walking on by.
My soul slides away.
But “Don’t look back in anger”,
I heard you say.

So Sally can wait,
She knows it’s too late,
As we’re walking on by.
Her soul slides away.
But “Don’t look back in anger”,
I heard you say.

So Sally can wait,
She knows it’s too late,
As she’s walking on by.
My soul slides away.
But “Don’t look back in anger,
Don’t look back in anger”,
I heard you say.
At least not today.

written by Noel Gallagher