The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
Some Postman
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He picks up the mail from the slot
He feels the rush of excitement as he holds it in his hand
Another love note no one got
Some postman is grooving to all our love letters
Some postman is gonna cry
Some postman is grooving to all our love letters
Gonna cry
Gonna cry
It's noon now and all the mailboxes have been emptied
And all the letters are inside
He counts them, he checks them, he looks for clues and finds
The ones with hearts on the outside
Some postman is grooving to all our love letters
Some postman is gonna cry
Some postman is grooving to all out love letters
Some postman is gonna cry
Gonna cry
Gonna cry
Gonna cry yeah yeah
Nineteen ninety three
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Holding onto a package meant for a distant lover
Thought it would be there overnight
She waits and she cries and she thinks he does not love her
The postman holds on oh so tight
Some postman is grooving to all our love letters
Some postman is gonna cry
Some postman is grooving to all our love letters
Some postman is gonna cry
Gonna cry yeah
You (you)
Crushed (crushed)
Paper hearts
Stole (stole)
And sold (sold)
And ripped apart
Your promise was sent but you never delivered to me
Some postman you turned out to be
The song "Some Postman" by The Presidents of the United States of America depicts a postman who delivers love letters to people but never sends them. The song is basically about unrequited love and the postman's role in it. The lyrics take a playful approach to the postman, as the title itself refers to "some postman," implying there are many of them out there, and that the singer isn't too attached to the postman, but rather the letters it contains.
The song opens with the postman starting his work at 6 AM on a sunny day. He picks up the mail and feels excitement as he holds letters that contain love notes, and he knows nobody received them. The singer sings about how the unknown postman will groove to all of their love letters, but will end up crying eventually. The second verse continues the story, but this time, it’s noon, and all the mailboxes have been emptied. The singer sings about how the postman searches for clues about the letters inside the boxes and finds the ones with hearts on the outside.
The final verse introduces a particular package that the postman holds on to. It's meant for a distant lover who thinks it would be there overnight. The postman holds on tight to the package, and the singer wonders if the recipient will get it at all. The song ends with the singer expressing their anger and frustration with the postman, who turned out to be unreliable, just like the Crushed (crushed) Paper hearts he stole (stole) and sold (sold) and ripped apart, and delivered their promise to someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
It's 6 AM and the sun is getting high
The start of a new day as the sun rises.
He picks up the mail from the slot
The postman begins his work by collecting mail from the mailbox.
He feels the rush of excitement as he holds it in his hand
The postman is happy to deliver letters and parcels.
Another love note no one got
A letter addressed to a lover that was never received.
Some postman is grooving to all our love letters
The postman enjoys reading love letters that are addressed to someone else.
Some postman is gonna cry gonna cry gonna cry
The postman is going to feel sad and cry over the love letters.
It's noon now and all the mailboxes have been emptied
All the mail has been collected from the mailboxes by noon.
And all the letters are inside
All the letters have been sorted and are ready to be delivered.
He counts them, he checks them, he looks for clues and finds
The postman double-checks the letters for any mistakes and checks for any special indications on the envelopes.
The ones with hearts on the outside
The postman identifies letters addressed to someone's lover by a heart drawn on the envelope.
Nineteen ninety three
The year the song was released.
Holding onto a package meant for a distant lover
The postman has a parcel belonging to someone's far away lover.
Thought it would be there overnight
The sender hoped the parcel would be delivered quickly.
She waits and she cries and she thinks he does not love her
The recipient of the parcel is upset and thinks the sender does not care about her.
The postman holds on oh so tight
The postman hangs onto the parcel, feeling the weight of responsibility to deliver it.
You (you) crushed (crushed) paper hearts
The sender of a love letter has hurt someone by breaking their heart.
Stole (stole) and sold (sold) and ripped apart
The sender of a love letter treated it carelessly and disrespectfully.
Your promise was sent but you never delivered to me
The promise made in a letter was never fulfilled by the sender.
Some postman you turned out to be
The postman is addressing the careless sender, criticizing them for their actions.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER WELDON BALLEW, DAVID MICHAEL DEDERER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Imperial Spy
Those 16 dislikes are Postmen holding all those love letters
Tarrute
I’m playing drums to this and I’m getting so into it that the vibration and friction on the side of my fingers rubbed a hole in them. It hurts like hell but this song makes me so happy.
GnarledCypress
Such a great song and great video. I can just watch it over and over!
Josh Taylor
So damn catchy.... this will be stuck in my head all damn day!! YEAH!!
That1RHCPchick
The awesomeness of his music is frozen in time, therefor he can not age
Damaged
All your songs are living rent free in my head. Thank you.
tastysandwhich
easily one of my most favorite PUSA songs, fanTASTIC to sing along to this one, my favorite band of all effing time!(not just regular time, effing time.)
Austin Lucas
Was this song inspired by "Please Mr. Postman"? I think this gets more down to the point than "Please Mr. Postman". That song was more cheerful and was relying on anticipation rather than why the letters weren't coming. This song gets right down to the reason and is beautiful, yet sad.
Tana Miller
Love those guys! Seems like forever ago we made this video. xoxox, the gal dancing
Ryan Bashaw
Hell yeah I love this song