One of the more successful country music groups of the 1990s, their hits have included Every Once in a While, Days of America, and Goodbye Says It All.
The original lineup for the band throughout the 1990s was Paul, Robbins, and guitarist/vocalist Van Stephenson, who died of skin cancer in April, 2001. He was replaced by Randy Threet, the band's bass player, until 2003, when Anthony Crawford signed on.
From early 2008 until he re-joined in 2010, Robbins left the group to resume his songwriting career, and Threet re-joined. Since then, BlackHawk's backing band has been subsumed into the main group, which comprises Paul (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin), Randall (acoustic guitar, background vocals), Threet (bass guitar, background vocals), Chris Anderson (lead guitar, background vocals), Dave Robbins (keyboards, background vocals), and Monte Yoho (drums, percussion).
Current Total Nonstop Action Wrestling musician Dale Oliver was also once a part of Blackhawk.
Postmarked Birmingham
BlackHawk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've wondered where she'd wind up before she called or wrote
The answer's in a circle through the word love on a stamp
Postmarked Birmingham
I'd have bet on California 'cause her sister's in Bel Air
Or I could see Seattle with her mom and dad up there
She never mentioned Alabama so I don't understand
A two page letter written on Ramada stationary
Dated April twenty-two
She asked me not to hate her, said she's sorry
But leaving's what she felt she had to do
So the day she left, she made it two hundred miles south
Did she settle there? Did she mail this note on her way out of town
What chance is there to find her when the only clue I have
Is postmarked Birmingham?
A two page letter written on Ramada stationary
Dated April twenty-two
She asked me not to hate her, said she's sorry
Oh, but leaving's what she felt she had to do
Every day down by the mailbox, standin' on the curb, I check
The upper right hand corner of every piece of mail I get
Hopin' there's that certain circle through the word love on a stamp
Postmarked Birmingham
Postmarked Birmingham
BlackHawk's song "Postmarked Birmingham" is a story of a man who receives a letter from a woman who had left him without any explanation. The lyrics describe the character of the woman and the confusion of the man who is trying to figure out why she left him. The envelope is plain white, but the stamp holds the significant clue that tells the man where she is. With a circle through the word love on the postmark, he knows she is in Birmingham, Alabama.
The character of the woman is mysterious as she never mentioned her connection with Alabama before. The man is curious whether she settled there or just passed through and mailed the letter. The song describes his emotions in detail - he wonders if he would have guessed that she would go to Alabama or if he missed some clue that would have led him to her. The man recognizes the writing on the envelope, and wonders where she would wind up before she called or wrote. The letter was written on Ramada stationery and is two pages long, wherein the woman apologizes for leaving and asked the man not to hate her.
Line by Line Meaning
I recognize the writing on the plain white envelope
The singer recognizes the handwriting on the envelope which is not unusual to him.
I've wondered where she'd wind up before she called or wrote
The singer had been curious of the whereabouts of the letter sender who he expected would call or write him.
The answer's in a circle through the word love on a stamp
The answer about her whereabouts was on the stamp where the word ‘love’ was circled.
Postmarked Birmingham
The letter was sent from Birmingham.
I'd have bet on California ?cause her sister's in Bel Aire
The singer expected that the sender would be in California since her sister lived in Bel Air.
Or I could see Seattle with her mom and dad up there
The singer thought she might be in Seattle with her parents.
She never mentioned alabama so I don't understand
The singer is not able to comprehend why the sender would be in Alabama since she never mentioned it before.
A two page letter written on ramada stationary
The letter she sent was two pages long and was written on Ramada stationary.
Dated April twenty two
The letter was dated April 22nd.
She asked me not to hate her, said she's sorry
The sender apologized for leaving the singer and hoped he would not be mad and forgive her.
But leavin's what she felt she had to do
The sender left because she felt it was necessary to do so.
So the day she left she made it two hundred miles south
When the sender left, she went two hundred miles towards the south.
Did she settle there, did she mail this note on her way out of town
The singer is not sure if the letter was sent by the sender from where she settled in or was it while she was leaving the town.
What chance is there to find her when the only clue I have is
The singer thinks that there is a very slim chance of finding the sender since the only clue he has is the postmark.
Everyday down by the mailbox standin' on the curb I check
The singer checks the mailbox every day while standing on the curb.
The upper right hand corner of every piece of mail I get
The singer checks the upper right-hand corner of all the mails he receives.
Hopin' there's that certain circle through the word love on a stamp
The singer is hoping that he finds the sender's letter with a circle around the word ‘love’ on the stamp.
Postmarked Birmingham
The song ends with repeating the place from where the letter was sent.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Sampson, Phil Vassar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kevin Brewer
I miss music like this. The stuff on the radio will never compare to this.
Kenneth Montalvo
Amen
Storm Crow
That's a matter of perspective. But I agree blackhawk in general was top notch.
Nathan Muckala
This was the best song to come out at the time at least in my mind.
Michael Soost
In my opinion, this masterpiece seems to be massivly underrated.
David Dickerson
This has always been a favorite of mine. Sad but beautiful and was happy that I was notified about it being shared. Thanks for all your great music!
sandra Sandoval
Love these guys. Love the piano in this song. These guys really deserve the country awards for best harmony and greatest hits!!!
Y'allAinRite
This video guts me every time. Remarkable in every way. The lyrics, the singing and the story of the video. How many men and women have lived this story?
Scott W
Yeah, this hits home from a simpler time. It still gives me the chills.
Storm Crow
Yeah I'm 40. And I grew up with this and 90s alt. Great time of life. No cares at all