About The Song
Ah, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, a true power couple of country music. Together, their voices wove tales of love, loss, and the complexities of life in rural America. The Letter, released in 1976, stands as a prime example of their unmatched chemistry and storytelling prowess.
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This duet, the first single from their album United Talent, didn’t quite reach the top of the charts, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. But its impact transcended mere chart positions. The Letter struck a chord with listeners, becoming an enduring classic that continues to resonate today.
The song itself is a masterclass in emotional tension. The Letter presents a scenario both familiar and heartbreaking: a love triangle on the verge of shattering. We hear a woman, presumably Loretta Lynn’s character, pleading with her lover, likely embodied by Conway Twitty, to write a letter that will change everything.
The lyrics are laced with a potent blend of desperation and defiance. The woman acknowledges her past mistakes, “But don’t forget I’ll always love you no matter what you do,” but her love is intertwined with a fierce desire for a future with this man. “So now I’ve written the letter / The way you’ve asked me to / And I hope it makes them tell us the way you want it to,” she sings, her voice a mix of vulnerability and steely resolve.
Twitty’s response is equally nuanced. He embodies the internal conflict of a man caught between two powerful emotions. While there’s a clear affection for the woman asking him to write the letter, a hint of resignation creeps into his voice “But you know sweetheart the saddest part / I’m not pretending for I still love you too.”
The beauty of The Letter lies in its ambiguity. The song doesn’t offer easy answers or a happily-ever-after ending. It paints a portrait of a messy, complicated situation where love and loyalty are tested. The listener is left to wonder what the letter contains, who it’s addressed to, and most importantly, will it achieve the desired outcome?
This uncertainty adds a layer of intrigue that keeps the song fresh. The Letter is a testament to Twitty and Lynn’s ability to tap into universal human emotions. It’s a song about love’s complexities, the sacrifices we make, and the enduring hope for a second chance. So, sit back, and prepare to be swept away by a timeless country classic, a song that speaks volumes not just through its lyrics, but through the raw emotions conveyed by two of country music’s greatest storytellers.
Video
Lyrics
Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn
Today, I saw her for the first time since she left me
And she said I’ve got a favor to ask of you
And I said all right, what is it?
And she said you know you always told me
If I ever needed any help just to ask and you’d help me
And I said, yeah, I remember
And she said, well, there’s this fellow that I’ve been goin’ with
And I just found out that he’s been slippin’ around on me
And I thought that maybe if you’d write me a letter
And tell me that you miss me and that you still love me
That he might find it and he might read it and
It might make him jealous and I might not lose him
And I said, Ok I’ll write you the letter.
Dear sweetheart, just a line to let you know
That I still think about you and I still love you so
I remember your kisses and everytime you held me tight
But most of all I remember the good times that we had each night.
Dear sweetheart, if you’re lonely, just let me know
For you’re still my one and only and I still love you so
I’m gonna close for now sweetheart and try to go on without you
But don’t forget I’ll always love you, no matter what you do.
So now I’ve written the letter the way you asked me to
And I hope it makes him jealous, the way you wanted it to
For I’ve told you I still love you and I want to be with you.
But you know sweetheart the saddest part
I’m not pretending for I still do…