Dear John
Tex Ritter
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Dear John, Oh, how I hate to write Dear John, I must let you know tonight That my love for you has died away like grass upon the lawn And tonight I wed another, Dear John. I was overseas in battle when the postman came to me And he handed me a letter, I was happy as I could be For the fighting was all over and the battle had been won Then I opened up the letter and it started, "Dear John." Dear John, Oh, how I hate to write Dear John, I must let you know tonight That my love for you has died away like grass upon the lawn And tonight I wed another, Dear John. Will you please send back my picture, my husband wants it now When I tell you who I'm wedding, you won't care, dear, anyhow Now the ceremony has started and I'll wed your brother Don Will you wish us happiness forever, Dear John? Dear John, Oh, how I hate to write Dear John, I must let you know tonight That my love for you has died away like grass upon the lawn And tonight I wed another, Dear John.
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Written by: AUBREY A. GASS, TEX RITTER
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Release Information"Dear John" was a song written by Aubrey Gass, Tex Ritter, and Frank Harford. It was concurrently recorded and released by Hank Williams on the MGM label and Tex Ritter on the Capitol label in early 1951.
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Chart SuccessThe song achieved great popularity in the early 1950s. Hank Williams's version peaked at number 8 in the Billboard country singles charts, while Tex Ritter's became a number 1 country hit.
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B-SideThe Hank Williams version was released with the B-side "Cold, Cold Heart", which itself became a country classic and also a mainstream hit for Tony Bennett.
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Film AppearanceTex Ritter's version of "Dear John" appeared in the film "Down Liberty Road" (1951), reinforcing its popularity.
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Song CompositionThe song is in the country-western style and tells the story of a man who receives a "Dear John" letter indicating his sweetheart has found someone else.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been later covered by multiple artists, including Ferlin Husky, Pat Boone, Jean Shepard, and Bobby Bare.
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Last SongIt's worth noting that "Dear John" was the last song Hank Williams ever performed. He was due to play it at a concert in Canton, Ohio in 1952, but was unable to do so because of his untimely death.
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LegacyDespite not being among Hank Williams's most celebrated hits, "Dear John" remains a significant contribution to his discography, and the song's success demonstrated the broad appeal of his country style.
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Significance of TitleThe title "Dear John" refers to the letters, known as "Dear John letters", sent by women to their military husbands or boyfriends to break up with them or inform them of their infidelity.
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GenreBoth versions of "Dear John" contributed to the burgeoning Honky-Tonk genre in the 50s, with its themes of heartbreak and deceit.
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Citation
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"Dear John Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6166996/Tex+Ritter/Dear+John>.
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