Letters in Music: "Tear-stained letter"

"Tear-stained letter" is probably one of the lesser-known songs (at least in Spain) by master Johnny Cash, and, in my view, totally underrated. It was the opening track in his 1983 album Hand of Kindness and it is about that letter (a song, really) that constitutes the last shot, the last chance to save a relationship.

Johnny Cash

"Tear-stained letter"

I'm gonna write a tear-stained letter,

I'm gonna mail it straight to you.

I'm gonna bring back to your mind,

What you said about always being true.

Bout our secret hiding places;

Being daily satisfied.

I can see you sitting and reading it,

While you hang you head and cry.

I just hope you're not so sad,

You're gonna go down suicide.

I'm gonna write a tear-stained letter:

Put it special delivery.

'Cause it's gonna be full of stuff,

That's only known to you and me.

'Bout how every time I get turned on,

You turn me off and bring me down.

It'll be about the darkest news,

That ever did arrive in your hometown.

It'll be about the saddest thing,

Your mailman ever did bring around.

I'm gonna write a tear-stained letter,

I'm gonna tell you one more time.

That you still could reconsider,

And come back to being mine.

An' if you think about what I'm saying,

It'd be hard to refuse.

Just be sure you think a long time,

On the answer that you choose.

It will be a most important piece,

Of personal, private news.

I'm gonna write a tear-stained letter,

Mark it "Personal Private News."

An' I hope you'll keep it to yourself,

An' don't go 'round crying the blues.

Giving off a bad impression,

As to what went really wrong.

When what it was was that suddenly,

The music was all gone.

And this man and this woman got cut off,

In the middle of our song.

I'm gonna write a tear-stained letter,

I'm gonna put it to a tune.

So I'll be sending with it,

A sweet melody for you.

And not some red-hot, upbeat zinger,

That'll set your body on fire.

But a hunk of love included,

Meant to take you a little higher.

And to settle on your sweet, sweet mind,

At night when you retire.

I'm gonna write a tear-stained letter.