The Letter

Joe Cocker

About The Letter

"The Letter" is a song written by Wayne Carson that was first recorded by the American rock band The Box Tops in 1967. It was sung in a gruff blue-eyed soul style by Alex Chilton. The song was the group's first and biggest record chart hit, reaching number one in the United States and Canada. It was also an international success and reached the top ten in several other countries. "The Letter" launched Chilton's career and inspired numerous cover versions. English rock and soul singer Joe Cocker's 1970 rendition became his first top ten single in the U. S.; several other artists have recorded versions of the song which also reached the record charts. Rolling Stone magazine included the Box Tops original at number 372 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added it to the list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". In 2011, the single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 


Year:
1995
4:26
82 
#1

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Give me a ticket for an aeroplane
I ain't got time to take no fast train
Oh, the lonely days are gone
I'm coming home
Oh, my baby she wrote me a letter

I don't care how much money I got to spend
I won't find my way, way back home again
Oh the lonely days are gone
I'm coming home
Yeah my baby, she wrote me a letter

Well she wrote me the letter
Said that she couldn't live without me no more
Listen to me mister please don't you ever
My baby once more
Anyway

I don't care how much I've gotta spend
I'm gonna find my way, gonna find my way back home again
Oh, the lonely days are gone
I'm coming home, yeah
Well my baby she wrote me a letter
Yeah

Well she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn't live without me no more
Oh listen to me mister don't jump the rail
For my baby once more
Anyway

Give me a ticket for an aeroplane
I ain't got time to take no fast train
Oh, the lonely days are gone
I'm coming home
Yeah, my baby she wrote me a letter

My baby wrote me a letter
My baby wrote me a letter
My baby wrote me a letter

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Joe Cocker

John Robert "Joe" Cocker OBE (born 20 May 1944) is an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of the Beatles. more »

4 fans

Written by: Wayne Carson Thompson

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


3 facts about this song

I. Joe Cocker Version
1. "The Letter" by Joe Cocker was released in 1970 as a single from their live album, Mad Dogs and the Englishmen. 2. Joe Cocker's version was arranged by his longtime collaborator Leon Russell who is also a famed musician. 3. Interestingly, Cocker's cover isn't a straightforward replication but a reimagining of the song, which includes a slower, bluesy introduction before it picks up speed. 4. Joe Cocker's version of the song was a commercial success and reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. 5. Cocker’s version of the song is especially noted for the performances of the group of backup singers who created a rich, gospel-like sound that became a significant feature in many of Cocker's future covers.
II. The Box Tops Version
1. The Box Tops' version of "The Letter" was the original and it was released in 1967. 2. It was written by Wayne Carson Thompson, a talented songwriter who also wrote a string of other hit songs. 3. The lead vocals for The Box Tops' version were sung by Alex Chilton, who was only 16 years old at the time making the success of the song quite extraordinary. 4. In the Box Tops' version, a jet airplane take-off sound effect was used to make the song distinct. 5. The song was the band's first and biggest record chart hit, reaching number one in the United States and Canada. 6. The Box Tops' version of "The Letter" was also nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1968. 7. Interestingly, The Box Tops version of "The Letter" was recorded in more than 130 minutes. 8. Full of soulful urgency and a catchy hook, "The Letter" was one of the big hits that defined the blue-eyed soul genre. 9. The Box Tops' version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011, cementing its status as a classic of the late 60s.
III. Miscellaneous
1. The Letter has also been covered by various artist apart from Joe Cocker and Box Tops, including Al Green and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. 2. Despite its, less-than-2-minute running time, it was one of the most successful singles of 1967, selling over four million copies. 3. The song’s enduring popularity can be seen by its appearance in many movies and adverts, including a recent one for Amazon Prime.

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    The Letter

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1970

    Billboard #7


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