The Letter
The Medallions Lyrics
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But you just, just won't be true
Darling, I'm writing this letter
Knowing that you ain't never read it
But each time I write you darling
I pen what lips can't say
Because I love you, although you're so far away
My words caremily* that love alone can't tell
Oh my darling, please hear my plea, please
Darling, what is there worse on this earth
Then to be unable to stop lovin' you
Knowing well that I should
To me a black day, to me a black night
To kiss and love, and then have to fight
All the time...
Let me whisper sweet words of pismotality*
And discuss the pompatus* of love
And put 'em together, and what've you have
Matrimony, oh my darling, please hear my plea
Oh darling, darling, oh how I love you, really do
But you just, just won't be true
The lyrics of The Medallions' song The Letter tell the story of a heartbroken lover who is unable to forget their unfaithful partner. The singer addresses their beloved, expressing their undying loyalty and devotion, despite the pain they are enduring. They admit to writing letters that they know will never be read, as a way of expressing their true feelings, which they struggle to articulate in person. The chorus pleads with the unfaithful lover to change their ways and to stop causing heartache. The song is filled with powerful emotions, as the singer laments the agony of being unable to stop loving someone who is causing so much pain, and the frustration of wanting to move on but being unable to do so.
One interesting fact about The Letter is that it was later covered by the soul singer Al Green, who changed the lyrics and turned it into a hit song. Green's version of the song, titled "I'm Still in Love with You," was released in 1972 and became one of his biggest hits. Another interesting fact is that the song was written by Vernon Green, the lead singer of The Medallions, who was known for his unique vocal style and his ability to incorporate nonsense words and phrases into his lyrics. The word "pismotality" in the song is an example of this, and has become a popular and enduring part of the song's lore.
Line by Line Meaning
Darling, darling, oh how I love you, really do
I deeply love you, my dear, more than words can express.
But you just, just won't be true
However, you have consistently been unfaithful to me.
Darling, I'm writing this letter
My love, I am expressing my feelings through this letter to you.
Knowing that you ain't never read it
I understand that you may never read these words that I'm writing.
But each time I write you darling
Yet every time I write to you, I express what I feel.
I pen what lips can't say
I write what I can't express verbally.
Because I love you, although you're so far away
My love for you endures, even though we are physically distant.
My words caremily* that love alone can't tell
I write with care and attention to every detail, expressing my love in the best way possible.
I always hope and wish you well
Despite the situation, I always want the best for you.
Oh my darling, please hear my plea, please
My love, I implore you to listen to my request.
Darling, what is there worse on this earth
I wonder what could be worse in this world than longing for your love and not receiving it.
Then to be unable to stop lovin' you
Not being able to stop loving you, no matter how hard I try.
Knowing well that I should
Although I know I should try to move on and forget about you.
To me a black day, to me a black night
Every day and night feels dark and dreary without you.
To kiss and love, and then have to fight
We share moments of love and passion, but we always end up fighting and arguing.
All the time...
This cycle seems to repeat itself over and over again.
Let me whisper sweet words of pismotality*
Let me speak fondly and lovingly to you.
And discuss the pompatus* of love
Let us talk about our love and what it means to us.
And put 'em together, and what've you have
If we combine these things, what do we get?
Matrimony, oh my darling, please hear my plea
I am suggesting that we get married, my love. Please consider my request.
Darling, darling, oh how I love you, really do
Once again, my dear, I love you deeply and truly, and nothing can change that.
But you just, just won't be true
However, your lack of honesty and faithfulness is causing me heartache and pain.
Writer(s): Wayne Carson Thompson Copyright: Bike Music O.B.O. Lovolar Music, Bike Music O.B.O. Budde Songs Inc.
Contributed by Thomas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.