Jim Croce "Operator" REACTION Video | daughters first time hearing this song

Millennial reacts to old music. Jim Croce Operator reaction video. First time hearing this song. Best reaction videos to music. Best reaction to 70s music.
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🔵ATTRIBUTION 🔵
Operator - Jim Croce. • Operator - Jim Croce
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[@sarahdixon1943]

" .... there's something in my eyes. You know it happens every time I think about the love that I thought would save me..." That line gets me every single time 😭

[@hudsonhollow]

Me too. I lost a sweetheart to a "friend" in 1970 and will never get over it.

[@booterspaw]

@@hudsonhollow same here. Lost my wife to my "best friend".

[@donaldduck2139]

❤❤❤❤

[@steveyeager6177]

For me it's the resignation in his voice when he says "and you can keep the dime"

[@kachoww5981]

@@steveyeager6177 yea almost like “at least you get something here, I’m done” to me

[@darrenadelman770]

He's not over it, he wanted to call to show he was, to himself as well as them, show he wasn't still in Love, singing " I only wish my words could just convince myself that it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels", he starts tearing up in the second verse, "There's someting in my eye, you know it happens every time, I think about a love that I thought would save me". he's broken hearted and the operator hears the story, in the end he doesn't call and is still broken hearted.

[@jsat210]

I agree Darren. At the end of the song, he's still not over the breakup and the betrayl.

[@judybaker3028]

Exactly! I'm amazed at how many reactors get that wrong. He is still broken up and can't bear to talk to them.

[@757optim]

Jim has several songs about characters that are quite fun, but his serious stuff is stellar. RIP Jim & Maury.

[@dagmar.6954]

Another great folk rock singer songwriter who we lost so young. This is the music I grew up with. Unique storyteller & ballad singer. He touches your soul. He had a lot of great hits in his short career. "Time In A Bottle", "Photographs & Memories", "Bad Bad Leroy Brown", "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", "I Got A Name", "Workin' At The Car Wash Blues," "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song", "Roller Derby Queen", "Rapid Roy", "Lover's Cross" etc.

[@cindyknudson2715]

I think he starts out wanting to call to "triumph" by telling them he's fine. The bigger man. By the second verse she's given him the number but because he's got something in his eye (tears?) he can't read it. He's losing at his effort to convince himself he's fine. And then he realizes that there's no point in calling cuz he's NOT over the hurt and betrayal. That he can't pull it off. Explaining why he needed the number brought home to him that he's just not ready for this call - and, maybe, it's time to let go of the whole notion entirely. And then, for me, there's the nostalgia for the missing payphones.

[@atdeacon]

You have to ask how many times he tried to make that call....He's not fine and probabaly will never be fine. It will be a scar on his soul forever.

[@TomTom-ui9hg]

Ladies, you must get headphones. You don't realize how much you are missing . You will hear things musically you are not hearing without them. Such a totally different experience.... Peace!

[@wpollock1]

"She's living in LA, with my best old friend Ray / A guy that she knew well and sometimes hated"....wow. She was lying to him about liking his buddy and then leaves him to skip town with Ray. Great writing.

[@ronaldinnewmexico1912]

Best old EX-friend Ray :)

[@SirWrecksy]

"no one there I really wanted to talk to" killer

[@donaldball9265]

It's an incredibly sad song...and always will be..

[@jeromemilne561]

Jim Croce had so many great hits in such a short time

[@mikemiller3069]

When Mom said, "this brings back so many memories" I remembered a comedian, Stephen Wright clip I saw recently. He said in his deadpan style, "thinking about the past brings back so many memories....".😂

[@mattmid7012]

Ah Stephen Wright. 😂 "I have some powdered water but I don't know what to add."

[@salhaney]

The point of the song is that he wasn't alright. He said he "just wished his words could convince himself that it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels". He tells the operator that "there's something in his eyes"; tears. It happens everytime. This is one of the saddest songs ever written IMO.

[@hudsonhollow]

Mom, you'll have to explain how we kept notes, numbers, etc.... on matchbooks. But he's not over it. "Something in my eye".

[@ericksoderquist8612]

OMG! Ma Bell, 5Cents for the first 3 min. Dial phone booths… hahaha. A great song writer, singer. Died way to young.

[@drew2ist]

The analysis is spot on. I recommend listening to the live version. It’s just two acoustic guitars and it’s beautiful. He and the other guitarist died in an airplane crash after that performance.

[@salmuscles]

“Time in a bottle” is his greatest most beautiful song.... please do it soon ... thanks

[@fredbays]

I'll bet that the younger of u didnt get the line "u can keep the dime" It is a very important part of the song It tells us he is calling from a phone booth b/c he is to poor to have a phone. Ya in 1966 when he wrote the song a good 1/4 of ppl did not have a phone. They used pay phones that cost 10 cents (a dime). Every here he dropped a dime on me. He had join the HJ AG to get out of draft and going to VN. He was inspired to write the song watching guys lined up at the pay phone to call their girls many to ask if the Dear john letter they got was for real.

[@jamesanderson5268]

Jim played rhythm guitar and his sidekick, Maury Muehleisen played the wonderful lead guitar and occasionally sang backup. Both died in the same plane crash.

[@dougsusie2319]

Love this song. I was 15 in 1973 when he tragically died in a plane crash. I seem to think it was that summer but not sure. I was crushed on hearing the news because I really liked this guy. I wouldn't be effected by a death like this until the night of December 8th, 1980 when John Lennon was murdered. I still have never fully gotten over that one. That one scarred me and still saddens me to this day. Peace & Love

[@KevinRCarr]

Yes, closure. "You can keep the dime..." he was at a payphone, something else that's almost nonexistent today.

[@timothy1386]

He changed his mind, because while he was waiting on the operator, the things he was saying as to why he calling, he realized he's only kidding himself that he has gotten over what they had done to him. Once realize he hasn't really gotten over that, decided nevermind to waste his time talking to them, because he would only be lying to them if he told them he had gotten over what they done to him. His feelings remain hurt, and just leave it at that.

[@edprzydatek8398]

Great reaction. You really listened to the lyrics and got the meaning of the song. Yeah, the good old days of pay phones. You sometimes had to have a pocketful of change. Another song that is sort of built around a pay phone is "Sylvia's Mother" by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. It's a great song and I've seen a lot of reactors have it fly over their heads. I think you'd get it though.

[@douglasmonty5912]

Many years ago, I knew a young woman who took her own life listening to that song. they found her body in the back seat of her car in a parking lot with a bottle of pills lying next to her. Her love had left her and she never recovered. She was at our house the night before it happened. My ex and I were trying to help her get through her pain. We failed.

[@jackw467]

Dial 0 for the operator .. Phonebooks are still around .. you just need a Microscope to read them . Beautiful song, and memories ( letters, never sent )

[@GCKelloch]

I only know the handful of JC songs on the radio when I was a kid in the early 70s, and I adore this one. I Got A Name is the other one I really liked. "I've got a song...and I'll carry it with me, and I sing it now...If it gets me nowhere, I'll sing it proud." Words of wisdom. Great song writer he was.

[@NunyaDammeBiznis]

Jim had the appearance of a teamster from Brooklyn, that tough guy look. The contrast between that and the sensitive, emotional lyrics he wrote is startling.

[@Eric_L_Laney]

I love this song. When he sang, “You can save the dime,” I had the impression he was at a pay phone. It’s coming up on 50 years since he tragically died in a plane crash. He was only 30. His son, AJ Croce, grew up to be a singer/songwriter. He’s got other great songs too like Time in a Bottle, Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Don’t Mess Around with Jim and I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song.

[@erickvermeulen9734]

To be fair, many young people will be surprised watching old movies where people have no cellphones. Same with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show performing Sylvia's Mother. The splendid guitar playing is by Maury Muehleisen, terrible that Jim and Maury died in 1973 in a plane crash.

[@roy19491]

My favorite Croce song was one of his lesser known ones, which was "One Less Set of Footsteps"

[@david....hilltop3659]

i remember feeding that phone both so many coins when i made calls

[@kaafromoz]

TY for showcasing the wonderful gentleman that was Jim Croce sadly take way too soon as most beautiful souls are RIP and TY Jim sadly missed. Jim said this was a true story, that when returning from Vietnam he lined up to use the payphone to ring an ex girlfriend to say he was home safe and the song came from that event. So based on a true story as a lot of Jim's story songs where. I have always loved his voice and would HIGHLY recommend "Time in a Bottle' or "Photographs and Memories" from Jim they both always tough my heart as this one does. Keep Safe Keep Strong 🦘🦘🦘🦘🎶🎶🎶🎶💖💖💖💖

[@shawnlowrance6528]

Like someone else mentioned already, he's not over her!! "There's something in my eyes, you know it happens every time, I think about the love that I thought would save me". He's crying, so he can't read the number she just gave him. He's trying to convince himself that he's over her but not working and he knows it!! He wants believe it wasn't real, but not way it feels!!. Please go back and listen to this song again and really focus on what he is saying. Glad you liked the song.

[@firedoc5]

Jim was killed on my 8th birthday (9-20-73) in Natchitoches, LA. He had just played at Northwestern State University which was the last for his tour and was getting ready to fly home. The plane clipped some pecan trees at the end of the runway and crashed. An older friend of mine had just talked to him just before he got on the plane. He was so amazing, and another gone way too soon.

[@cajunsushi]

Jim Croce was a masterful storyteller who passed much too young.

[@dranet47]

SO many good songs, even deep cuts. You'll love it.

[@johnthegreek5836]

Ladies you’re hitting them out of the park tonight, another great singer songwriter that we lost too young

[@janicetrimmell6897]

Baby Gap, you were right initially about the two guitars (plus the bass). Maury Muehleisen, who is playing with him, was an outstanding guitarist (RIP to both).Jim used to call Maury "his band." I guess those two guitars were about all you needed. I felt every note he sang. My favorite Croce song is "One Less Set of Footsteps." It is more uptempo, about a "less than committed" relationship. Thanks for this.

[@BOOMNERD51]

Additionally sad to his youthful death in an accicen Maury Muelhesen died as well. I think of the late John Prine and his friendship with master guitarist (and songwriter too) Steve Goodman Who helped make John's song "Souvenirs" majestic when they sang it in a duet Steve died of cancer in his thirties and John in recent years from COVID after surviving cancer twice. Now that Jim Croce's son is grown he has finally been able to perform some of his Dad's songs. Thank God for the legacies we can still appreciate! ❤️

[@jimilemons7680]

He wants to tell her he’s fine but he realizes he is NOT fine, he is destroyed. The operator gives him the number and he literally cries so much he can’t read the number he just wrote down. This song is about the opposite of closure - it’s about unrequited love and sustained longing.

[@chriscowan7883]

Another great one who we lost way too soon!

[@cliftonparago4547]

Phone books are still around BUT are only given to people and places with landlines. Most people today only use cellular

[@ballsyrocker]

Here in Indiana ,phone booths disappeared in about 2000 to 2005. So did phone books. Some phone booths ( like mine in a little highway burg ) were removed because idiots destroyed them,or broke inro them for the coins. Funny thing, when I was just out of high school (1968) I took some lunches to the local Ma Bell offices for the operators, during a blizzard. Upon entering, there was a huge room with rows of about 40 to 50 female typists that were typing up phone bills to be sent out to customers. There was the constant tat tat tat tat of the typewriter keys that was overwhelming that the women had to listen to all day. Those jobs are gone. Whew!

[@davemcbroom695]

Thanx ladies and Wayne. This is a good one. You can't go wrong with Jim.

[@luther1546]

What a legend he was.

[@deedeeturner6577]

Jim was the best and so talented. So was his partner. Plane crash in Dallas uggg. 25 yrs old.

[@cheewooleong5066]

You would love Photographs And Memories too

[@Fancymay]

This song gives me chills every time I hear it. An amazing musician taken way too soon.

[@ronaldinnewmexico1912]

The singer is describing a call at a "pay phone," which cost a dime for decades.

[@billtaylor3382]

I have loved Jim since I heard this song, Never did see him live, My 1st live concert was way back and it was Cat Stevens, Had all is albums

[@Jamie-lw5sy]

Great choice in song guys. 👍

[@davidphillips4476]

Great songwriter that left us just way to soon.

[@jeffreywhipple9925]

Truly a magnificent song

[@rainerzufall42]

Don't miss "Time In A Bottle"! And just under 100 followers to go for 20 K!

[@johnwatson9507]

Another great telephone song is “Telephone Line” by ELO. I just love how you understand this song so well and so quickly.

[@willieboy3011]

Yes, I remember this from high school. Every long distance call required putting in quarters, dimes, and nickels every 3 minutes or so in pay phones. I have had many a flirting, fun call too with the operators, who were mostly females. I may not have always contacted the intended female, but I had fun talking with the operators.

[@terrystrand]

Gone much too soon... and Operator is a MONSTER piece of art work... such a beautiful bittersweet melody and lyric and singer. Thanx so much for posting.

[@pfcampos7041]

LOVE this song! My favorite Jim Croce song but he has quite a few "hits".

[@nathans3241]

What's interesting is that through his speaking with the operator he actually talks himself out of moving forward with the call to his ex-girlfriend. Kind of like a lesson in psychology where he begins to move on and not waste his time.

[@EchoesDaBear]

Pretty much love anything and everything by Jim Croce! Relaxed, soothing, beautiful voice, great melodies & wonderful words. Can't ask for much more. This song, Time In a Bottle, so many others are constants.

[@lelandstronks319]

I’m so glad the youth of today are enjoying Jim Croce,one of the greatest songwriters of our time. There’s hope for you kids yet.🎼🎶🤭

[@hototowhistler]

'I Got a Name'. You two need to hear the tune : )

[@LuckyDawgProductionsModerator]

I love Jim Croce! One of my favorite male singers. HIs songs were so heart wrenching. Love this song! Great reaction, ladies!

[@wayne_twentyfive]

Thanks so much for doing my request, ladies !..It's a classic beautiful but sad song, and I think you're on the right track about the lyrics .. Yes, there are 2 acoustic guitars on this and many other JC songs .. He played one, and his musical partner Maury Muehleisen played the other .. Check out the live performance from the Kenny Rogers show showing them both .. It's wonderful !

[@scottgorski7931]

One of the great story tellers of the musical world.

[@donaldduck2139]

he's gott another big hit that would make a great lullaby for you to sleep...it's called, ' Bad Bad Leroy Brown '

[@kylesummers1565]

Lol, most people today don't know what an "Operator" really was. My parents had a very small, antiquated motel (18 rooms) that had the old cord plug-in phone system. I spent many evenings "plugging" people into their desired recipients. I actually thought it was kinda cool because I grew up watching Andy Griffith. Peace, Love!!

[@dougweaver4754]

Talk about breaking a Man’s heart . Can’t you See by The Marshall Tucker Band is a must listen

[@jukeboxdave6026]

Hi my friends great reaction a young gentleman taking KZbin by storm is ren -hi ren this video has had 3 million views in 2 weeks and it is pure genius worth a look and at the end has a great message many thanks love and respect from the UK 👍👍👍👍👍👍🌟😀😀 amazing channel 👍

[@kimking6036]

It is sad. His women ran off with his best friend. He wants to call them and say he's over it. He's not. Something in his eyes, you know it happens every time.

[@robertworrell6287]

Just wanted to say Saturday's Live Stream was way to good.I'm sure I speak for everyone. Momma Gap, you paint a true picture of the scene. I was there.I hoped it would stay on so all could see.

[@festidious2644]

Hi, Robert.

[@tomcoty5886]

I believe it’s the greatest song ever written. The words, the guitars, and the tempo are unmatched. I have a tattoo of a dime on my leg that says “You can keep the dime”.

[@user-cv5xt7nv5o]

This song one many that he sang was Awsome! But to be true you must hear the song Time in a bottle. It was hard when he passed and to this day I still think of him.

[@glennsmusicchannel]

Jim Croce was the first music artist whom I remember watching the newscast about his death. You really have to wonder what else he would have written over the years. He had so many great songs for such a small recording output.

[@smalltownblackouts]

Such a great breakdown of the song. Never thought about that catharsis. "Isn't that the way they say it goes?

[@BrianSch-wi4jl]

Jim wrote Operator about his experiences when he was in the army. You had a certain amount of time to use the phone and you could hear the guys calling their girlfriends after receiving a "Dear John" letter. The other guitar you hear is from Maury Muelheisen - a fantastic guitarist - who also perished in the plane crash in 1973

[@mikeconway9849]

Great reaction ladies! Jim Croce was an excellent singer, songwriter and story teller. Gone too soon, RIP.

[@rodb9275]

Awesome analysis!!! Love your content . "Time in a Bottle" is a must hear.

[@wgb_jd]

Spot on interpretation.

[@dougwill8850]

He's still hurt.

[@patrickikeda2869]

I love your reactions to songs, most of the time! It's nice to see the reaction from the daughter to those I remember from my past! I love it!!!!

[@StevesFunhouse]

Baby Gap, very good and intuitive reaction !!! I loved every minute of it. Yes, this song is about closure. Jim was in the Army and, back in those days, they didn't have cell phones, of course, so when the G.I.s would get free time, they would all rush to line up at the few pay phones they had on the base to call home to their girls, wives, etc. only to get a "Dear John" type of conversation, and he imagined what these guys were going through. So yeah, just as you suspected, in the first verse, he's asking the operator to look up the number, which she does. In the second verse, he calls the operator back, realizing he can't even read the number he wrote through all the tears so, this time, he wants her to place the call FOR him. The third verse is just a continuation of the second verse where, as you suggested, he realizes he's only calling to tell them both that, even though they hurt him, he has gotten over it, in spite of their betrayal. He clearly hasn't, and he states this to the operator (chorus), thanks her for her time and closes out the call. This song brings tears to my eyes, pretty much every time I hear it ... I am THAT empathetic. I've lived that scenario several times in my life, though not as neatly spelled out as in this song (much uglier). Jim always found a way to touch you, cutting through all of your defenses and reaching right down to your feels. He also had his funny "tough guy" songs that made you laugh. The man was a great storyteller.

[@stphinkle]

I saw Jim Croce's episode of "Behind the Music". Jim Croce was also a contractor and a truck driver.

[@777colin1]

On the 20th September 1973, a plane took off from Natchitoches Regional Airport in Natchitoches, Louisiana. There were 5 onboard. Jim and his guitar player, 24 year old Maury Muehleisen had just completed a concert. The plane didnt make it above the tree line before crashing into the trees killing all on board. We lost so much that day. But we have his music to remember what a great songwriter he was. RIP Jim and Maury

[@827dusty]

I remember when everyone first heard the news over the radio. I was 17 years old, (I'm now 67) and outside working on my pickup truck and the radio was on a Rock station. "This just in... Singer /songwriter Jim Croce has been killed." It was The Buddy Holley Story all over again in the 70s rather than the 1950s. Both so young, and just hitting their Prime in the music world. I did the same a few years later when Elvis died in 1977. LIke the death of President Kennedy in 1963, you'll always remember where you were, and what you were doing when you heard the news. Thanks

[@poopy918]

I LOVE the songs you Ladies play! Brings back a time when I was healthy and happy. Please keep posting these types of songs.

[@srad-oq7cb]

I read this was about a soldier at basic training who's girlfriend left him for his best friend. He waited in line for a pay phone to call them. Then decided against it.

[@charlesputnam9370]

I grew up listening to Jim. Lately I have playing some of his songs on guitar. I like the blue s sounding songs and the characters in his songs. I just learned to play speedball Tucker great fun . Don't mess around with jim, bad bad Leroy brown and rapid roy the stock car boy, time and bottle are the ones I play the most.

[@matthewchance8835]

A beautiful song for two beautiful ladies. Have a wonderful evening

[@frankbolger3969]

You should try "Taxi," by Harry Chapin. Excellent song with a very similar theme.

[@MrRondonmon]

He used the operator has his sounding board, Jim was happily married when he was killed in a plane crash, before he really became super famous. Maury Muehleisen was always playing a guitar and singing back up, he was originally going to be the lead singer but soon realized what a special talent Jim was. He also died in the plane crash in Louisiana. They were truly a duo/team like Hall and Oates, I am sure on down the road Muary would have been given some songs to play lead on, but they were just starting out. 🥲🥲

[@williamjordan5554]

Died young along with his "assistant guitarist" to coin a phrase.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

Daughter's interpretation was 100% spot-on.

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

Mr Croce is exactly hitting the Apex Moment of "My coming out to meet the World all by My Damn-self" period of my life.

[@keymack2477]

Love Jim Croce, RIP, taken from us far too soon. In addition to reacting to more of his, there is a song similar in some ways to this one called "Sylvia's Mother" by Doctor Hook, that I think you would enjoy. If you ever decide to react to it please try to find a live version as they are quite the fun group to watch perform.

[@chrisholtgrave8850]

My favorite operator was Lilly Tomland on “HeeHaa 😊 on ringy dingy 😂

[@jerickson725]

I love everything Jim Croce!! Phonebooks still exist, probably for no reason, lol. The new operator is now dialing 411 on your cell phone 😅. I'm glad you got to hear this for the first time, young one 😊.

[@SIR-DanielHunter]

Yeah I remember the operator and the rotary phone. But at least I didn't have too climbed telephone pole to make phone call.🤣🤘

[@armadillotoe]

Most guys have gone through a similar situation. We just don't talk about it. My generation generally interacted with operators when using a pay phone.

[@double00spy]

Thanks for this video. I had forgotten how brilliant Jim Croce was. We lost him way too soon.

[@ronpotter9810]

It was also a time where we had matchbooks. Not anymore... Beautiful song by a beautiful soul. He & Maury were gone much too soon. What beauty did we miss out on?