Jim Croce – Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels) | Have You Heard: Jim Croce Live

About the song

Ah, Jim Croce. The man had a knack for weaving stories that resonated with the everyman, didn’t he? His songs were like snapshots of ordinary life, filled with relatable characters and emotions that felt both familiar and profound. And perhaps no song exemplifies this better than “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels),” a track that perfectly encapsulates the bittersweet pangs of lost love and longing.

Taken from his posthumously released live album, “Have You Heard: Jim Croce Live,” this rendition of “Operator” is particularly poignant. Recorded at a concert in the fall of 1972, just months before his tragic passing, it captures Croce at his best – his voice rich with emotion, his guitar work effortlessly weaving the melody, and his storytelling prowess on full display.

The song opens with a simple, almost hesitant guitar riff, setting the stage for a tale of heartbreak and denial. Our protagonist finds himself at a payphone, desperately trying to connect with an old flame. He fumbles with the number, his vision blurred by tears, the operator’s voice a distant presence in his emotional turmoil. He’s trying to play it cool, to convince himself (and the operator) that he’s over it, that he just wants to “tell them I’m fine.” But the cracks in his facade are evident, his voice betraying the raw pain beneath the surface.

What makes this song so compelling is its universality. Who hasn’t experienced the gut-wrenching feeling of trying to move on from a lost love, only to find themselves haunted by memories and “what ifs?” Croce captures this struggle with remarkable honesty and vulnerability. He doesn’t shy away from the messy, complicated emotions that accompany heartbreak – the denial, the bargaining, the lingering hope that maybe, just maybe, things could have been different.

As you listen to this live version of “Operator,” pay close attention to the nuances in Croce’s voice. The way he pauses, the slight tremor in his delivery, the raw emotion that seeps through – it’s a masterclass in conveying complex feelings through song. And even though the recording is tinged with a touch of melancholy knowing Croce’s fate, it’s also a celebration of his artistry, a reminder of his enduring legacy as a songwriter who could capture the human experience with such profound simplicity.

So, settle in, pour yourself a drink, and let the melancholic beauty of Jim Croce’s “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” wash over you. It’s a timeless reminder that even in our moments of deepest despair, there’s beauty to be found in the shared human experience of love, loss, and the enduring power of memory.

Video

Lyrics

Operator, well could you help me place this call
See, the number on the match book 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

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, well 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 the 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, 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
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