Album: Playboy (1962)

Charted: 17

License This Song 

• (La, La. La, La, La, La, La)
  Hey-ah-ay-ay
  (La, La. La, La, La, La, La)
  Oh, baby
  (La, La. La, La, La, La, La)
  Hey-ah-ay-ay
  (La, La. La, La, La, La, La)
  
  You can have this dance with me
  You can hold my hand and
  Whisper in my ear sweet words that I love to hear
  
  (Whisper sweet words in my ear) Oh, baby
  Don't be shy (don't be shy)
  Just take your time (just take your time)
  I'd like to get to know you (like to get to know you)
  I'd like to make you mine (like to make you mine)
  
  I've been waiting, standing here so patiently
  For you to come over and have this dance with me
  
  And my number is Beechwood 4-5789
  You can call me up and have a date any old time
  
  (La, La. La, La, La, La, La)
  Hey-ah-ay-ay
  (La, La. La, La, La, La, La)
  Oh, baby
  (La, La. La, La, La, La, La)
  Hey-ah-ay-ay
  (La, La. La, La, La, La, La)
  
  Don't be shy (don't be shy)
  Just take your time (just take your time)
  I'd like to get to know you (like to get to know you)
  I'd like to make you mine (like to make you mine)
  
  Beechwood 4-5789
  You can call me up and have a date any old time
  
  And my number is Beechwood 4-5789
  You can call me up and have a date any old time
  
  Beechwood 4-5789
  You can call me up and have a date any old time Writer/s: George Gordy, Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson
  Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

• Jennifur Sun from RamonaI remember vaguely from somewhere that this prefix and number actually went to somewhere connected with Motown, does anyone know for sure.
• Bubblesk from Memphis, TnBack in 1962, the first few records I bought included "Beechwood 4-5789" "Playboy" & "Twistin' Postman" all by the Marvelettes. I think "Twistin' Postman" came out in very early '62 and the later two in the summer. They marked my big entrance into buying rock & roll and R&B records. In 1962 my poor little allowance couldn't keep up with my love for buying the latest records though, like the dance crazes, R&B hits, and some instrumentals. But I loved the Motown artists and that sound because you could dance to them so easily and nearly everyone in high school loved them too. My cousins from Texas hated R&B, but they were the exception to good taste anyway so....... Well, I love to hear the Marvelettes on the oldies radio in my area now. If I drop a few hundred pounds, I might be able to do the Mashed Potato again too.
• Elmer from Westville, OkOwwww!! I remember this hit by The Marvelettes in the summer of 1962. It was popular to dance to. The summer of '62 had a lot of dances that were popular (Mashed Potato, Pony, Twist, Wah-Watusi, Hully Gully, etc.) and you could do a lot of them to this song. Loved the Marvelettes too. Too bad that Berry Gordy (the Motown boss) didn't give the Marvelettes the attention they deserved., in order to make more hits.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyThe Carpenters had a minor hit with this song in 1982, topping out at No. 74 on Billboard...
• John from Nashville, TnThis song was co-written by Marvin Gaye.
• Andre from The Bronx, NyWith the word-prefix phone number, you sure did not call the "Operator" (btw, that's a song by Brenda Holloway). All you did was use the first two letters (for this song it's "BE") and dial where the letters were indicated, for example, 2-ABC, 3-DEF, etc., just as the alphabet letters are still shown on phone buttons today! - Dre
  
  A famous movie phone number with the word prefix is "Butterfield 8" starring Elizabeth Taylor just two years befoe The Marvelettes song.

More Songfacts:

Mamma MiaABBA

The phrase "Mamma Mia" was big in 1976. It was the name of a popular Abba song, and also showed up in the lyrics to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

Two TribesFrankie Goes to Hollywood

Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Two Tribes" features British actor Patrick Allen reading extracts from a government civil defense leaflet.

Won't Get Fooled AgainThe Who

"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who is about a revolution, but it doesn't have a happy ending, since in the end the new regime becomes just like the old one. Pete Townshend thought that whoever was in power was destined to become corrupt.

Crazy TrainOzzy Osbourne

"Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne is about the Cold War concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.) should any nuclear missile be fired.

Sister ChristianNight Ranger

"Sister Christian" was written by Night Ranger drummer Kelly Keagy, who was imploring his younger sister to be careful in her reckless youth, especially when "motoring" (driving around) with friends.

Unchained MelodyThe Righteous Brothers

"Unchained Melody" first appeared in a 1955 movie called Unchained. The Righteous Brothers recorded it in 1965, and their version was resurrected in the 1990 movie Ghost.

Editor's Picks

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.