The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Hello Operator" by the artist "White Stripes, The"

The White Stripes' song "Hello Operator" portrays a lyrical protagonist in despair, desperately trying to connect with someone using a payphone. The lyrics convey a sense of loneliness, isolation, and hopelessness.

"Hello operator, get me number nine." - A desperate plea for connection, a yearning to talk to anyone who might be able to help. "Number nine" doesn't hold a specific meaning but represents a potential listener.

"Can you try later? Would you try her for me? Can you get me my dime back?" - The protagonist is poor and alone, clinging to formalities in a bid to retain a shred of dignity. Every dime counts.

"Turn on the light, crank up the generator, roll me a dollar bill." - A metaphor for the futility of efforts. The generator likely symbolizes a life force or energy the protagonist lacks.

"Paperboy brings the news, leaves it on my window sill." - An image of the outside world continuing despite the protagonist's suffering. Newspapers symbolize news and information, rendered useless to someone cut off from society.

"Buy me a canary, have it sing me to sleep, send a telegram to me, have it delivered to my feet." - Another desperate attempt to find any form of communication, however improbable.

"Cut out my obituary, 'cause there's nothing on TV, clip out my obituary, 'cause my telephone is outta reach, and my coffin doesn't come with a telephone." - Grim irony highlighting the protagonist's hopelessness. He feels so utterly alone that he resigns himself to the idea of his own death.

"What are you doing with your life? Delivering papers to a dead-end street. What are you doing with your life? No one's home to pick up the phone." - Accusations hurled at abstract forces seemingly responsible for his misery. The protagonist sees no meaning in anything, including his own life.

In essence, "Hello Operator" is a cry for help lost in a void. It captures the protagonist's heavy emotional state, his desperation, and profound loneliness.