The Letter
Joe Cocker and Mad Dogs and Englishmen Lyrics


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Give me a ticket for an aeroplane

Give me a ticket for an aeroplane
I ain't got time to take no fast train
Oh the lonely days are gone I'm coming home
My baby she wrote me a letter

I don't care how much I've got to spend
Oh I'm gonna find my way back home again
Oh my lonely days are gone I'm coming home
Yeah my baby, she wrote me a letter

She wrote me a letter
Said, "She couldn't live without no more"
Listen to me Mister ?
My baby once more, anyway

I don't care how much I've got to spend
I'm gonna find my way, way back home again
Lonely days are gone I'm coming home
My baby, she wrote me a letter

Well she wrote me a letter
Said, "She can't live without me no more"
Listen to me Mister ?
My baby once more, anyway

Give me a ticket for an aeroplane
I ain't got time, take no fast train
Oh the lonely days are gone I'm coming home
My baby she wrote me a letter

My baby wrote me a letter




My baby wrote me a letter
My baby wrote me a letter

Overall Meaning

Joe Cocker's 1970 hit single "The Letter" is about a man who is returning home after receiving a letter from his love interest. The song begins with the singer requesting a ticket for an airplane to return home to his lover, with no interest in taking a fast train. He expresses his excitement about the end of his lonely days as she wrote him a letter. The chorus is where the singer repeats the phrase "My baby wrote me a letter," emphasizing how much the letter means to him. The second verse mirrors the first, with the singer stating his eagerness to find his way home to his lover again. The singer repeats the chorus to finish the song.


"The Letter" speaks to the power of human connection and the joy that comes with receiving love from someone special. It is a celebration of the love that the singer and his lover share, and the excitement that comes with the journey home.


Overall, "The Letter" has a simple yet powerful message. It highlights the importance of relationships and how they can bring so much joy to our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Give me a ticket for an aeroplane
I need a plane ticket to return home quickly


I ain't got time to take no fast train
I cannot wait for a train, I need to get home soon


Oh the lonely days are gone I'm coming home
My sad and lonely days are over because I am returning home now


My baby she wrote me a letter
My beloved wrote me a letter which made me realize that I need to come back home


She wrote me a letter
My beloved sent me a written message


Said, "She couldn't live without no more"
My beloved cannot live without me anymore


Listen to me Mister ?
I have a message for you, sir


My baby once more, anyway
My beloved wants me back, regardless of any other circumstances


I'm gonna find my way, way back home again
I will make sure to return back to my home


My baby, she wrote me a letter
My beloved wrote me a letter that has made me realize that I need to return home


Well she wrote me a letter
My beloved sent me a written message


Said, "She can't live without me no more"
My beloved cannot live without me anymore


My baby wrote me a letter
My beloved wrote me a letter that has made me realize that I need to return home


My baby wrote me a letter
My beloved wrote me a letter that has made me realize that I need to return home


My baby wrote me a letter
My beloved wrote me a letter that has made me realize that I need to return home




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Wayne Carson Thompson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

ZIONISIM KILLS

How many realize , Leon Russell put this whole thing together, the arrangement, production, picked the musicians, backup singers, he ran the whole thing. True musical Genius.

David Ellis

@Suzanne Hedderly I cant believe how stoned he was!

Suzanne Hedderly

@Tom Brown You are so lucky! I was shocked at his passing. I saw him live once so at least I have that memory. He was so under appreciated.

Tom Brown

From my hometown and my high school . Leon was brilliant. I saw him live about 2 weeks before he passed. A magnificent show from magnificent performer.

oleole52

Now don't get mad,but he may have been a little stoned while doing it,which makes it even more impressive.I read somewhere that as a teenager,he won a high profile classical piano competition,the Van Cliburn .

Suzanne Hedderly

I DO! He was a genius! I love his subtle cues to the band. Can't believe all this great music is gone. At least there are clips to see how great and fun it was!

Tony Lombardi

This is so damn good. There was a lot of talent on that stage.

BDHO73

Those backing vocals are strong! Next level.

Andy Belock

love that the backing singers look like they are having a blast!

Roger Layne

Joe Cocker one of the GREATEST SINGERS TO EVER WALK THE FACE OF EARTH

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