Letters in Music: "Please, Mr. Postman"

"Please Mr. Postman"(1961) is a classic, the debut single by the Marvelettes, and the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. Later on, in  1963, the Beatles made a cover of the song, and so did the Carpenters in 1975.

The song talks about a lady anxiously waiting for the postman hoping he has brought her a letter from her boyfriend, who is away at war. Waiting for a letter and other mail-related storylines were common in songs of this era, when the postal service provided a primary means of communication. In fact, "Return to Sender" was a hit for Elvis Presley the following year and the Marvelettes' follow-up single was "Twistin' Postman", which also continued the story of the woman who waits for a letter from her boyfriend.

Interestingly enough, the Songfacts website explains that this song was written by a postman who helped Dobbins complete the lyrics. His name was Freddie Gorman and his mail route included Brewster public housing where members of The Supremes lived. 

"Please Mr Postman"

Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman

Wait Mister Postman

Please Mister Postman, look and see

If there's a letter in your bag for me

Why's it takin' a mighty long time?

For me to hear from this boyfriend of mine

There must be some word today

From my boyfriend, so far away

Please Mister Postman, look and see

If there's a letter, a letter for me

I've been standin' here, waitin' Mister Postman

So, so patiently

For just a card, or just a letter

Sayin' he's returnin' home to me

Mister Postman, look and see

If there's a letter in your bag for me

Why's it takin' a mighty long time?

For me to hear from this boyfriend of mine

So many days you passed me by

You saw the tears, standin' in my eyes

You wouldn't stop to make me feel better

By leavin' me a card or a letter

Please Mister Postman, look and see

If there's a letter, oh yeah, in your bag for me

You know it's been so long

Yes, since I heard from this boyfriend of mine

You gotta wait a minute, wait a minute

You better wait a minute

Please, please Mister Postman

Please check and see, just one more time, for me

You better wait, wait a minute

Wait a minute, wait a minute

Wait a minute, please Mister Postman

Deliver the letter, it's already better

Wait a minute, wait a minute

Wait a minute, please Mister Postman

Wait a, wait a minute, wait a minute

Can you imagine waiting for a letter in the internet era?