The band existed from 1967 to 1970, after which Chilton went on to lead the legendary Big Star.
The single "Neon Rainbow" was used in television adverts for the UK telecoms company, Talk Talk, in 2009/2010.
The Letter
The Box Tops Lyrics
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Ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home
My baby, just a wrote me a letter
I don't care how much money I gotta spend
Got to get back to my baby again
Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home
My baby, just-a wrote me a letter
Well, she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn't live without me no more
Listen mister, can't you see I got to get back
To my baby once-a more
Anyway, yeah
Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home
My baby, just-a wrote me a letter
Well, she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn't live without me no more
Listen mister, can't you see I got to get back
To my baby once-a more
Anyway, yeah
Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home
My baby, just-a wrote me a letter, my baby just-a wrote me a letter
The lyrics to The Box Tops' song The Letter are about a man who receives a letter from his significant other, prompting him to immediately return home to her. The first two lines suggest that he is in a hurry to get home, opting for an airplane ticket rather than a fast train. He cannot bear to be separated from his loved one any longer, and his lonely days are over now that he has received her letter.
The chorus repeats the idea that he is going home thanks to the letter she wrote, and that he is willing to spend any amount of money to make it happen. She wrote to him stating that she could not live without him, thus illustrating the deep love and connection they share. The man's urgency is evident in the line "Listen mister, can't you see I got to get back" - he is willing to do whatever it takes to return to his beloved.
The repetition of the lyrics in the chorus throughout the song makes it clear that the message conveyed in the letter is the most important thing to the man. His love for his significant other is at the forefront of his thoughts, and he cannot wait to be reunited with her. It is clear that the letter holds great significance to him, and it is the catalyst for his journey home.
Line by Line Meaning
Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
I urgently need an airplane ticket
Ain't got time to take a fast train
I don't have the luxury of taking a fast train as time is of the essence
Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home
I had been feeling lonely but now I'm excited to go back home
My baby, just a wrote me a letter
I received a letter from my significant other
I don't care how much money I gotta spend
The amount of money needed to get a ticket is not a concern for me
Got to get back to my baby again
My main priority is to return to my significant other
Well, she wrote me a letter
The letter was indeed from my significant other
Said she couldn't live without me no more
My significant other expressed that they cannot go on without me
Listen mister, can't you see I got to get back
I need to go back to my significant other and it's imperative that others understand that
To my baby once-a more
I want to see my significant other again
Anyway, yeah
I am very determined to get back to my significant other
My baby, just-a wrote me a letter
The content of the letter served as a catalyst for me to make the trip back home
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Wayne Carson Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind