The Letter
BB King Lyrics

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Yes, I want to write a letter
But I don't know just where to begin
Yes, I want to write a letter, people
But I don't know just where to begin
Well, I tell you, it's a sin, people
The way I've been treated by my so called friends

Yes, if I got a dollar

They want to borrow half a buck
Whoa, and if I want to gamble
They want to jinx me and give me bad luck
So, I tell you it's a sin, people
The way I've been treated by my so called friends

Yes, they say friends
They're the greatest thing in the world
Yes, they say close, close friends
They're the greatest thing in the world

But I think that's all wrong people
Because my best friend have taken my girl

Overall Meaning

In BB King's song "The Letter," the singer expresses his frustration with the people he thought were his friends. He wants to write a letter, but he doesn't even know where to start. The reason for his anger lies in the way his so-called friends have treated him. They always want something from him, whether it's money or attention. When he does give them what they want, they still find a way to hurt him. The singer believes that the way he's been treated is nothing short of a sin.

The second verse of the song highlights the hypocrisy of so-called friends. People say that friends are the best thing in the world, but the singer believes this isn't true. These supposed friends have taken advantage of him and his situation. He feels betrayed, as he allowed these people into his inner circle, and when it counted the most, they turned their backs on him.

The overall theme of the song is a warning about who to trust and who not to when it comes to friendships. It shows how people can take advantage of others for their own gain and hurt them in the process. The singer is frustrated and hurt, and his audience can relate to his dilemma. The song is a cautionary tale that states that trust must be earned before it is given.

Line by Line Meaning

Yes, I want to write a letter
BB King wants to express his emotions and feelings by writing a letter.

But I don't know just where to begin
He is unsure how to start the letter and what to include.

Well, I tell you, it's a sin, people
BB King feels wronged and treated unfairly by his so-called friends.

The way I've been treated by my so-called friends
His friends have not been supportive, and have taken advantage of him instead.

Yes, if I got a dollar
He has money, and his friends know about it.

They want to borrow half a buck
His friends are quick to ask for money, despite lending him none.

Whoa, and if I want to gamble
When BB King wants to have some fun, his friends are quick to judge him.

They want to jinx me and give me bad luck
His friends do not want him to succeed and also wish him ill-luck.

But I think that's all wrong people
BB King believes that friends aren't everything, they can turn out to be a problem.

Because my best friend have taken my girl
He has lost his trust in friends, as his best friend has betrayed him by taking his girlfriend.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JULES BIHARI, RILEY B. KING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind