Operator, well could you help me place this call?

“Operator” was a title given to Americans who connected others via telephone until China stole those jobs under Hillary Clinton’s watch as Secretary of State. Telephone wire remnants are still used today to tether tents on Level Yikes Wind Days and to lasso wild goldendoodles.

See, the number on the matchbook is old and faded

Matchbooks were once prevalent, irresponsibly given to restaurant patrons without the now legally required No Flag-Burning Pinky Promise.

The common interpretation here is the telephone number is old and faded from a once regularly occurring phenomenon: weather.

She’s living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray

L.A. was a “city” (collection of human dwellings) on the “West Coast” (the land lost in the naturally occurring Normal Flood as a result of climate stability). The West Coast was inhabited by “liberal elite,” a tribe of people who now live south of where construction on The Trump Wall is set to begin any day. The liberal elite live happily on an avocado-only diet under the benevolent reign of Queen Meryl Streep.

Also: Ray used to be Jim’s best friend.

A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated

It’s unclear why Jim’s ex-girlfriend would live with a guy she sometimes hated. Fake News would like you to believe people act against their own self-interest, but this is not a provable alternative fact.

Isn’t that the way they say it goes?
Well, let’s forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it

“They” say it goes? Who is they? Fake News!

“Let’s forget all that,” was a common expression. The act of forgetting was once induced by will and without Eraser® pills.

So I can call just to tell ‘em I’m fine and to show
I’ve overcome the blow, I’ve learned to take it well

It’s unclear whether “blow” is a reference to the sting of betrayal or today’s innovative learning-aid for children, cocaine.

I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn’t real, but that’s not the way it feels

This line, originally penned in 1972, eerily foreshadowed the Bowling Green Massacre and Swedish Incident of 2017.