Jim Adams is the dedicated host of Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie’s Music Challenges.  Jim says:

The challenge today is to focus on this song and use it for inspiration in any form of creative expression (including but not limited to short stories, poems, lyrics, artwork, photography, (etc.). 

Thank you, Jim, for the excellent essay and song that evokes a lot of feelings for me on relationships.

In the song, “Eli’s Comin’” the focus is on the singer warning other girls away from Eli because he’s a heartbreaker. As I listened to the song, for some reason, Electric Light Orchestra’s song, written by Jeff Lynne, called, “Telephone Line,” kept popping up in my head. Going out to youtube to find it, I had to listen to it and wait for the connection to present itself.

Methinks the singer doth protest too loudly. Let’s face it, the gist is, girls get away from Eli, and it is harped on throughout. Is it really about the singer (from now forward, Laura) being so worried for every female out there because Eli is such a heartbreaker? Or is it more that Laura still has feelings for Eli and is afraid he will move on to someone else?

One theory is that Eli still loves Laura and is waiting for a chance to try love with her again. If so, what has Laura so afraid that she is stuck in limbo, and by proxy, also sticks Eli in limbo?

Another theory is that Laura is the heartbreaker, but she either doesn’t want to admit it or wants to project the blame onto Eli so she is not looked at as the wrong one.

What is clear in this song is that it is being sung from only one side. Eli has no say here.

In my fantasy mind, I’d like to believe that Laura still cares for Eli, and that Eli is on standby, waiting for Laura to give him another chance.

Hello, how are you?
Have you been alright through all those lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely nights?
That’s what I’d say, I’d tell you everything
If you pick up that telephone, yeah, yeah, yeah

Hey, how you feelin’?
Are you still the same, don’t you realize the things we did
We did were all for real, not a dream
I just can’t believe they’ve all faded out
Of view, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh

Blue days, black nights
I look into the sky (the love you need ain’t gonna see you through)
And I wonder why (the little things you planned ain’t comin’ true)
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I’m living in twilight
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I’m living in twilight

Okay, so no one’s answering
Well, can’t you just let it ring a little longer
Longer, longer oh, I’ll just sit tight
Through shadows of the night
Let it ring forever more, oh

Blue days, black nights, doo wah doo lang
I look into the sky (the love you need ain’t gonna see you through)
And I wonder why (the little things you planned ain’t comin’ true)
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I’m living in twilight
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I’m living in twilight

Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I’m living in twilight
Oh, oh, telephone line, give me some time, I’m living in twilight

Songwriters: Jeff Lynne

“Telephone Line” is track two on Electric Light Orchestra’s 1976 album, “A New World Record,” and was the final single to be released from the album until September 2006. It became their biggest single success in the US and was their first UK gold award for a single. With ELO’s continuing success in America it seemed obvious to Jeff Lynne to use an American ring tone during the song. Writer/guitarist, Lynne explained: