There was no privacy on a party-line
if you were conversing with a friend
anyone could pick up the phone and listen in
we never had a smartphone in our pocket
all the girls kept the boys’ numbers in their lockets
Our long hair tangled in the phone line cord
mom would undue it as she muttered Dear Lord
There are not even any busy signals today
You hung up and dialed again that was the way
the party line was our local telephone loop
when conversing with a friend anyone could snoop
our phone number was always on display
if you wanted someone to call that was the only way
something like MUrry Hill 5-9099
And you could always dial and get the time
Sometimes you might hear an accidental sneeze
good etiquette caused us to say hang up, please
Back in the day, we seem to get along
Even when there was no cellular phone
When I think about the party line it was just fine
Life was a slower pace in a different era and time
