Letterbox
Washington Lyrics


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I left it in the letterbox
The taps all drip
and nothing locks
and the water takes a while to heat
and there is usually nothing much to eat

The neighbours play Jack Johnson covers,
Never heard of modern lovers
My house mates drank the Golden Ball
The house is cluttered, cold and small
There should be champagne, instead of gin
but I don't care, you're moving in

The piano's really out of tune
I saw a mouse run through my room
but I bought a new toothbrush for you,
See mine is blue and yours is blue
The tulips on the table died,
but there's bicycles for you to ride
No microwave and no TV
but there's lots of books and sometimes me

I'm putting all my shit in boxes,
Throwing out my life before
Backing up my tricks and hoaxes,
I don't need them anymore
and I hope you like it here
I hope you like here, I hope you like here,
I hope you like it here

I left it in the letterbox
The taps all drip
and nothing locks
and I won't be there to let you in
but it's your house now
and I have been all by myself with all your letters
I've been living alone,
I wish this place was so much better
but I don't care you're coming home




and I hope you like it here, Yeah I hope you like it here
Oh I hope you like it here, I hope you like it

Overall Meaning

The song "Letterbox" by Washington is a touching ballad about leaving a home behind and preparing it for someone special who is coming back. The lyrics illustrate the atmosphere of a small, cluttered, and cold home that is not perfect, but filled with love and memories. The singer tells about leaving the keys to the letterbox, the neighbors who play Jack Johnson covers, about a house-mate who drank the Golden Ball, and the mice that run around the room. Despite all the shortcomings, there is a sweet anticipation of the arrival of the loved one who will make the house a home. The singer hopes that their loved one will like the place, even with all its imperfections.


Moreover, the author cleverly uses the imagery of the letterbox as a symbol of connection and leaving a part of oneself behind. Leaving the keys to the letterbox is also leaving a piece of one's life in the old house. The song's lyrics are melancholic and evoke the feeling of nostalgia, but also of new beginnings and anticipation. The singer acknowledges that, while the place is not perfect, the love and connection make it a home.


Overall, "Letterbox" is a love song that celebrates the simple joy of coming home to those we love, even if the place is imperfect. The song reminds us that, in the end, it is the people who make a home, not the bricks and mortar.


Line by Line Meaning

I left it in the letterbox
I left the key to our new home in the letterbox


The taps all drip
The fixtures leak water incessantly


and nothing locks
None of the doors or windows lock


and the water takes a while to heat
It takes a long time for the water to heat in the shower


and there is usually nothing much to eat
We don't have much food prepared yet


The neighbours play Jack Johnson covers,
Our neighbours only play music by Jack Johnson


Never heard of modern lovers
They don't listen to any modern music


My house mates drank the Golden Ball
My former housemates drank all of our fancy champagne


The house is cluttered, cold and small
Our new home is cramped, chilly, and messy


There should be champagne, instead of gin
We should have some champagne ready to celebrate our move


but I don't care, you're moving in
I am excited that you are moving in, and that is all that matters


The piano's really out of tune
The piano is not in tune, so it doesn't sound very good


I saw a mouse run through my room
I saw a rodent in our home


but I bought a new toothbrush for you,
I got a new toothbrush for you to use


See mine is blue and yours is blue
Our toothbrushes are both blue


The tulips on the table died,
The flowers on our table died


but there's bicycles for you to ride
We have bikes ready for you to use and explore with


No microwave and no TV
We don't have a microwave or a TV set yet


but there's lots of books and sometimes me
But we've got plenty of books to read and I will always be here for you


I'm putting all my shit in boxes,
I'm packing up all my belongings


Throwing out my life before
I'm getting rid of all of my past


Backing up my tricks and hoaxes,
I'm leaving behind all of my deceitful ways


I don't need them anymore
I no longer need those things in my life


and I hope you like it here
I hope that you will enjoy our new home together


I won't be there to let you in
I won't be there when you arrive


but it's your house now
But now, this house belongs to both of us


and I have been all by myself with all your letters
I've been alone with nothing but your letters to keep me company


I've been living alone,
I've been living alone for a while now


I wish this place was so much better
I wish our new home was more to my liking


but I don't care you're coming home
But none of that matters because you're finally coming home to me


and I hope you like it here, Yeah I hope you like it here
I really hope that you will love our new home as much as I do


Oh I hope you like it here, I hope you like it
I have high hopes that you'll like living in our new home as much as I do




Contributed by Scarlett J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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