The Box Tops' music combined elements of soul music and light pop. Their records are prime examples of the styles made popular by Moman and Penn at American Sound Studio in Memphis. Many of their lesser known Top 40 hits are considered minor classics; these include "Neon Rainbow"; "Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March"; and "I Met Her in Church." As rock critic Lester Bangs wrote in a review of the group's Super Hits album, "A song like 'Soul Deep' is obvious enough, a patented commercial sound, yet within these strictures it communicates with a depth and sincerity of feeling that holds the attention and brings you back often."
The Letter
Box Tops Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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 Box Tops' "The Letter" is a song that describes a man's longing to return home to his loved one after receiving a letter from her. The lyrics capture the excitement and urgency the man feels as he searches for a way to get back to his baby, emphasizing the power of written words to bridge distances and bring people together.
The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody contrast with its heartfelt lyrics, creating a unique sound that made it an instant hit during its release in 1967. The song was written by Wayne Carson, who reportedly came up with the tune while taking a bath, and it was originally intended to be a slow ballad. However, when the Box Tops recorded it, they changed the tempo and style to make it more lively and appealing to their young audience.
The song's popularity was further cemented by its inclusion in various films, TV shows, and commercials. Its infectious rhythm and sing-along chorus have made it a classic and enduring hit that continues to be played and enjoyed today. Overall, "The Letter" is a song that captures the excitement and urgency of long-distance love, and it remains a beloved classic of the rock and roll era.
Line by Line Meaning
Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
I need a plane ticket to get home to my lover.
Ain't got time to take a fast train
I don't have the leisure to take a train because I must rush to see my partner.
Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home
I am no longer lonely because I am headed home to my love.
My baby, just-a wrote me a letter
My darling just sent me a letter expressing her love for me.
I don't care how much money I gotta spend
I am willing to spend any amount to see my lover once again.
Got to get back to my baby again
I must hurry to return to my partner's loving arms.
Well, she wrote me a letter
My love sent me a lovely letter expressing her feelings.
Said she couldn't live without me no more
My sweetheart claims she cannot continue living without me.
Listen mister, can't you see I got to get back
Please understand that I must rush to return to my partner's side.
To my baby once-a more
I must get back to my beloved once more.
Anyway, yeah!
In any case, I must return to my partner's side.
My baby just-a wrote me a letter
My sweet love wrote me a sweet note expressing how much she misses me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: MIKLOS ROZSA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@My.name.is.SickBoy
Lyrics :
Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone, I'm-a goin' home
Oh, 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
Oh, 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
Oh, 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
Oh, my baby, just-a wrote me a letter
Oh, go, my baby, just-a wrote me a letter
@RiverRat_1977
This song was on a 90 minute cassette mixtape of several songs my cousin Ronnie recorded to take with him to Vietnam, but he was troubled about going to fight in a war he was against since we lived in Northern California where, in 1967, was the home of the Anti War Movement and the Summer of Love!
Ronnie was pressured to enlist in the Navy because his father was a highly decorated WWII Vet and was determined that his son should follow in his footsteps. Ronnie’s feelings were largely unknown to his brother Larry, his parents, myself, all our other cousins and relatives, and some of his friends at Cloverdale High School. In the end, he was caught between pleasing (placating) his father and going to Vietnam… which he was already legally committed to do after his father had taken him to the recruiting office to enlist when he was still only 17 (Being part of a large Navy Family, it’s just something we did)!!!
I only knew Ronnie was unhappy about the situation, and he frequently expressed this to me, but I didn’t understand how deeply distraught he was becoming as his High School Graduation was getting closer, despite being 8 months away! Late Halloween Night, after he got off of work as the projectionist at the local small movie theater in Cloverdale, I can only imagine how he was feeling inside… the last Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other celebrations at home… because, he would be gone at least 2 years, if he made it back alive (in his mind) before he would be able to celebrate any of these holidays with his family again!
He knew how disappointed and angry his father would be if he went to Canada, or dodged his legally binding commitment to serve, which he would have been arrested for- after the first day he would be considered AWOL!! So, while driving to his parent’s home late that Halloween Night in 1967, he made the decision to take his life by driving over, and then off of, the embankment of the Cloverdale Bridge (Old Highway 101) crashing down a steep rocky ridge into the frigid and fast moving water of the Russian River where he drowned after having been knocked unconscious from the impact.
It was so late and so dark in that small town that nobody saw what happened until early in the morning when someone saw the signs of an obvious collision off the northern approach to the bridge span coming from the northern part of town and heading southbound at a fairly high rate of speed (in a 25 mph zone) to make sure he didn’t just land on the rocks there…
I’ll never forget every detail that led to his suicide- since I was the only family member who knew how Ronnie really felt, and hearing this song just transports me back to that time and causes those memories to just reverberate, yet it reminds me of the warm friendly character Ronnie was and all the great times we had together!!
Ronnie’s younger brother Larry was killed on his motorcycle in Germany by a “Ghost Rider” flying down the wrong way of the Autobahn at a high rate of speed, and without any headlights on, which was considered a daredevil kind of prank for young German drivers who were usually intoxicated. But this activity was considered almost common since they even had a name for the deadly prank, and the people who were driving!
My other cousin Larry was stationed in the US Army over in Germany. But there wasn’t much of him left to send back to his parents in 1977. Just around 10 years after his older brother Ronnie had died. Larry was buried at the Fort Presidio Army Base Cemetery in San Francisco, California, and in a spot that looks over the entire western part of the SF Bay, near the Golden Gate Bridge. He was given full military honors at his burial.
Their parents were shattered after having lost their sons to steel, rubber, asphalt, and having US Military commitments!! I’m reminded of Larry by this song since we wrote each other often… and I’m reminded even more about Ronnie because it was the first song on his mixtape, and because I really miss all the letters we never got to send to each other… and after over 55 years, it’s also about all the missed times we never got to spend with each other as we grew older…
I never could bring myself to tell Ronnie’s father what he really thought about going to fight in a war he despised as much as his friends all did back then! I don’t know if it’s fortunate that Larry never went to Vietnam, having waited a few years after it ended before he decided to enlist in the service. And I’d like to think he did it to make up to his father for what Ronnie couldn’t serve… So their father never knew what Ronnie sacrificed to avoid going to Vietnam, and by my not saying anything, it would never spoil his perception of Ronnie’s death as anything but accidental!!! So I have no regrets for staying silent!!!
@138eliza
My dad who was in Vietnam said this song helped him through that horrific time. He came home but was never the same. I’m happy he had something like this song to come home. Too bad he couldn’t find the peace he was looking for. He was too young gone at 51. To all the veterans thank you. 🙏
@lesliebankston
How lucky your father is to have you. Insight, true compassion and appreciation for the gift of music. God, is surely in you ❤
@FlyingSpaceDog
Salute
@danscott3880
Amen my uncle was there 66-68 he has never been the same. God bless all our veterans. Past. Present
@1stbattlion372
Your was Dad blessed with a daughter like you. My wife divorced me and took our daughter
with while I was in the VA learning how walk with my new leg. Never seen either one of them again. to all Veterans...OORAH !!!
@138eliza
@@1stbattlion372 im sorry to hear what happened. You did more than your best and it was not in vain. I wish you healing ❤️🩹. Endless gratitude for your service. 🙏
@WastedTalent-
Such a great song. The first time I heard this song was about 30 years ago when I was 15 and hanging out at the corner bar. There was a guy, Bob. He was a Vietnam Vet/POW and had vertical scars over his eyes. He loved this song to no end. Always asked me to play it. We'd sing it at the top of our lungs. He told me it reminded him of a better time.
@ottokokko6343
Very nice story. stangers you meet are truly wonderfull sometimes, sticks with you forever
@charlesjonessr3684
I swear this song is not long enough.
@MrMaKeMeDiNnEr
Thats what she said