Steve Goodman Telephone Answering Tape Lyrics

I used to dial your number
We used to say hello
We'd shoot the breeze
And burn off someone's ears that we both know
Then you got tired of talking
And you needed an escape
So you went and laid your money down
For this telephone answering tape

And now you leave it on every night and day
So you can screen your calls
You erase the ones you don't really care about at all
Well, you play that tape like it was something you were born to do
Sometimes I think maybe girl, it's the tape that's playing you
So you'd better wake up Miss hard-to-get
I'm a waitin' on the other end
You can put the world on hold
But you can't hold a friend
And if you ever want to put this conversation back in shape Don't call me cuz I'll call you
When you take off that tape

Well now I dial your number
Cuz I know you won't be home
And I get to get it off of my chest
As soon as I hear the tone
I'll tell that tape the words
I couldn't say right to your face
You're gonna find out how I feel
When you play back that tape

Well you'd better wake up Miss hard-to-get
I'm a waitin' on the other end
You can put the world on hold
But you can't hold a friend
And if you ever want to put this conversation back in shape
Don't call me cuz I'll call you
When you take off that tape
Now don't call me cuz I'll call you
When you take off that tape