Sylvia's Mother
Encyclopedia
"Sylvia's Mother" was a 1972 single by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
and the group's first hit song. It was written by Shel Silverstein
and was highly successful in the United States
, reaching #5 on the Billboard
singles chart, as well as #1 in Ireland
and #2 in the United Kingdom
. It also spent 3 weeks at #1 on the Australian music charts, making it the 15th ranked single in Australia
for 1972. It appeared on the group's first album, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show.
, with songwriter Shel Silverstein drawing upon his unsuccessful attempt to revive a failed relationship. Silverstein had been in love with a woman named Sylvia Pandolfi, but she would later be engaged to another man. Desperate to continue the relationship, Silverstein called Pandolfi's mother, Louisa, but she instead told him that the love had ended.
The lyrics tell the story in much the same way: A young man, despondent and near tears after learning that his ex-girlfriend (Sylvia Avery, with whom he had an earlier bad breakup) is leaving town, tries to telephone her to say one last good-bye, or at least try to get a suitable explanation as to why their relationship failed and maybe try to rekindle things. However, Sylvia's mother (Mrs. Avery) tells him that Sylvia is engaged to be married, and is trying to start a new life in Galveston
. She asks the man not to say anything to her because she might start crying and want to stay. She tells the man Sylvia is hurrying to catch a 9:00 train. In an aside, she then tells Sylvia to take an umbrella, because "Sylvie, it's starting to rain". She then returns to the conversation, thanks the (unidentified) man for calling, and asks him to call back again. The pathos lies in Sylvia's mother being aware of both conversations, but the lovers only "pass in the night". Throughout the phone conversation, an operator cuts in to ask for more money ("40 cents more for the next three minutes") to continue the call.
recorded a cover version. Bare's version became a hit, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
chart that October. One of his last hit records during his stay at Mercury Records
, "Sylvia's Mother" became the first of many Silverstein-penned songs Bare had success with, and would foreshadow both an entire album dedicated to Silverstein-penned songs (1973's Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends and Lies) and hit records written by Silverstein, including "Marie Laveau
," "The Winner," "Rosalie's Good Eats Café", "The Mermaid", "The Winner", "Warm and Free" and others.
"Sylvia's Mother" was also covered by Bon Jovi
on This Left Feels Right Live
. A sequel, titled "Mrs. Avery," has been written and performed by the British folk rockers The Men They Couldn't Hang
. This song begins where "Sylvia's Mother" ends and concerns what happens next.
Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show was an American pop, country and soft rock band, formed around Union City, New Jersey in 1967 as The Chocolate Papers. They enjoyed considerable commercial success in the 1970s with hit singles including "Sylvia's Mother", "The Cover of the Rolling Stone", "A Little Bit...
and the group's first hit song. It was written by Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein
Sheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein , was an American poet, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. He styled himself as Uncle Shelby in his children's books...
and was highly successful in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, reaching #5 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
singles chart, as well as #1 in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and #2 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It also spent 3 weeks at #1 on the Australian music charts, making it the 15th ranked single in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for 1972. It appeared on the group's first album, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show.
Song background
"Sylvia's Mother" is autobiographicalAutobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, with songwriter Shel Silverstein drawing upon his unsuccessful attempt to revive a failed relationship. Silverstein had been in love with a woman named Sylvia Pandolfi, but she would later be engaged to another man. Desperate to continue the relationship, Silverstein called Pandolfi's mother, Louisa, but she instead told him that the love had ended.
The lyrics tell the story in much the same way: A young man, despondent and near tears after learning that his ex-girlfriend (Sylvia Avery, with whom he had an earlier bad breakup) is leaving town, tries to telephone her to say one last good-bye, or at least try to get a suitable explanation as to why their relationship failed and maybe try to rekindle things. However, Sylvia's mother (Mrs. Avery) tells him that Sylvia is engaged to be married, and is trying to start a new life in Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
. She asks the man not to say anything to her because she might start crying and want to stay. She tells the man Sylvia is hurrying to catch a 9:00 train. In an aside, she then tells Sylvia to take an umbrella, because "Sylvie, it's starting to rain". She then returns to the conversation, thanks the (unidentified) man for calling, and asks him to call back again. The pathos lies in Sylvia's mother being aware of both conversations, but the lovers only "pass in the night". Throughout the phone conversation, an operator cuts in to ask for more money ("40 cents more for the next three minutes") to continue the call.
Cover versions
In 1972, about the same time the Dr. Hook version was on the chart, country singer Bobby BareBobby Bare
Robert Joseph Bare is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the father of Bobby Bare, Jr., also a musician.-Early career:...
recorded a cover version. Bare's version became a hit, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart that October. One of his last hit records during his stay at Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, "Sylvia's Mother" became the first of many Silverstein-penned songs Bare had success with, and would foreshadow both an entire album dedicated to Silverstein-penned songs (1973's Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends and Lies) and hit records written by Silverstein, including "Marie Laveau
Marie Laveau (song)
"Marie Laveau" is a 1974 live recording by Bobby Bare. "Marie Laveau" was Bobby Bare's thirty-fourth single to hit the country charts, which became his only number one. It was written by Shel Silverstein...
," "The Winner," "Rosalie's Good Eats Café", "The Mermaid", "The Winner", "Warm and Free" and others.
"Sylvia's Mother" was also covered by Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
on This Left Feels Right Live
This Left Feels Right Live
This Left Feels Right Live is the third of Bon Jovi's live concert videos. Filmed at Atlantic City, New Jersey, this features the band's performance at the Borgata on November 14 and 15, 2003...
. A sequel, titled "Mrs. Avery," has been written and performed by the British folk rockers The Men They Couldn't Hang
The Men They Couldn't Hang
The Men They Couldn't Hang are a British folk punk group. The original group consisted of Stefan Cush , Paul Simmonds , Philip "Swill" Odgers , Jon Odgers and Shanne Bradley .- Controversy and success:Their first single, "The Green Fields...
. This song begins where "Sylvia's Mother" ends and concerns what happens next.