Telephone Lyrics

[Refrain: Lady Gaga]
Can call all you want but there's no one home
And you're not gonna reach my telephone (No)
Out in the club and I'm sippin' that bub
And you're not gonna reach my telephone (No)
Can call all you want but there's no one home
And you're not gonna reach my telephone
Out in the club and I'm sippin' that bub
And you're not gonna reach my telephone

[Verse 2: Beyoncé]
Boy, the way you blowin' up my phone (Won't)
Won't make me leave no faster (Pu-put)
Put my coat on faster (Le-leave)
Leave my girls no faster
I should've left my phone at home
'Cause this is a disaster
Callin' like a collector
Sorry, I cannot answer


[Bridge: Lady Gaga, Beyoncé & Both]
It's not that I don't like you, I'm just at a party
And I am sick and tired of my phone r-ringin'
Sometimes I feel like I live in GrandCentral S-Station (Station)
Tonight I'm not takin' no calls, 'cause I'll be dancin'
('Cause tonight I'm dancin', dancin')
'Cause I'll be dancin' ('Cause tonight I'm dancin', dancin')
'Cause I'll be dancin' ('Cause tonight I'm dancin')
Tonight I'm not takin' no calls, 'cause I'll be dancin'
[Outro]
We're sorry, we're sorry
The number you have reached is not in service at this time
Please check the number or try your call again

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About

Genius Annotation

The second single from The Fame Monster, “Telephone” was originally written by Gaga for Britney SpearsCircus album, but Spears rejected it. Later, Gaga recorded the song as a collaboration with Beyoncé.

Gaga said, “I wrote it for her [Spears] a long time ago and she just didn’t use it for her album. It’s fine because I love the song and I get to perform it now.” Additionally, the guest vocalist was originally going to be Spears, but ultimately Gaga made Knowles the featured vocalist instead.

The main inspiration behind the song was Gaga’s fear of suffocation as she felt that she seldom found time to just let loose and have fun.

“Fear of suffocation—something that I have or fear is never being able to enjoy myself, … ‘Cause I love my work so much, I find it really hard to go out and have a good time. … I don’t go to nightclubs, … You don’t see pictures of me falling out of a club drunk. I don’t go—and that’s because I usually go and then, you know, a whiskey and a half into it, I got to get back to work.”

The song was accompanied by an epic, 9-minute music video which was the sequel to the equally epic “Paparazzi” video, and was heavily inspired by the work of Quentin Tarantino and others.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

How much has the song sold in the United States?
Genius Answer

According to Billboard, as of February 10th, 2019, the song has sold a total of 3.5 million copies to date.

Is there a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the music video?
Genius Answer

Credits
Featuring
Copyright ©
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Performance Rights
Co-Producer
Additional Vocal Production
Assistant Vocal Recording Engineer
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Background Vocals
Video Director
Special Effects
Recorded At
Darkchild Studios , Los Angeles (Lady Gaga's Vocals); Studio Groove, Osaka, Japan (Beyoncé's Vocals).
Release Date
January 26, 2010
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