10 Great Rock Songs About Letters

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Fleetwood Mac’s “Blue Letter” brings a different energy, blending folk-rock roots with the band’s evolving pop sensibilities, while The Police’s “Message in a Bottle” uses reggae rhythms to depict isolation and the longing for connection. Meanwhile, The Beatles’ “Please Mr. Postman” and Aerosmith’s “Write Me a Letter” add layers of rock and blues to the theme, capturing the frustration and hope that letters often carry. In Bonnie Raitt’s “Love Letter,” the blues become a channel for vulnerability and desire, contrasting with the wry humor and defiance in The Velvet Underground’s “Send No Letter.”

# 10 – A Letter to Elise – The Cure

Opening the list of great rock songs about letters is “A Letter to Elise” by The Cure, a haunting and melancholic reflection on lost love and unfulfilled longing. Released as the third single from their 1992 album Wish, this song embodies the unique blend of vulnerability and introspection that has long defined The Cure’s sound. Recorded in 1991 at The Manor and Outside Studios in Oxfordshire, England, under the experienced production of Robert Smith, Dave Allen, and Mark Saunders, “A Letter to Elise” features the talents of Robert Smith (vocals and guitar), Simon Gallup (bass), Perry Bamonte (guitar), Boris Williams (drums), and Porl Thompson (keyboard).

“A Letter to Elise” stands out for its lyrical depth and emotional nuance. The song’s lyrics read like a farewell letter, capturing the sense of inevitable loss and the pain of letting go. Smith’s anguished voice delivers lines such as, “I just can’t stay here every yesterday, like keep on acting out the same way we act out,” evoking the cyclical nature of a failing relationship that refuses to change course. The recurring motif of “yesterday” highlights the characters’ inability to move forward, trapped in a loop of memories and missed opportunities. The refrain, “Oh, Elise, it doesn’t matter what you do, I know I’ll never really get inside of you,” lays bare a profound emotional disconnect, hinting at the unbridgeable gap between desire and reality. This sense of distance is further echoed in the delicate interplay of guitars and keyboards, which weave a sonic landscape that is both lush and spare, allowing the listener to feel the spaces between the words.

Read More: Top 10 Cure Songs

# 9 – Letter To You – Bruce Springsteen

Released as the title track of his 2020 album, Letter to You, this song is a poignant love letter to his fans, his lost friends, and his own past. Recorded live with the E Street Band at Springsteen’s home studio in Colts Neck, New Jersey, in just five days in November 2019, the track showcases the raw, unfiltered energy that has become the hallmark of Springsteen’s work. The production, handled by Springsteen and Ron Aniello, highlights the band’s dynamic interplay and the emotional sincerity of the lyrics. Joining Springsteen on this journey are Roy Bittan (piano), Nils Lofgren (guitar), Patti Scialfa (backing vocals), Garry Tallent (bass), Stevie Van Zandt (guitar), Max Weinberg (drums), and Charlie Giordano (organ), with Jake Clemons carrying on the legacy of his late uncle Clarence on saxophone.

# 8 – Send No Letter – The Velvet Underground

Third on our list of great rock songs about letters is “Send No Letter” by The Velvet Underground, a track that captures the tumult of a relationship in free fall. While the song never reached the iconic status of “Sweet Jane” or “Rock & Roll,” it exemplifies The Velvet Underground’s ability to combine raw emotion with biting humor, blending acerbic lyrics with a gritty, stripped-down sound. Recorded in 1969 at The Record Plant in New York City, “Send No Letter” was part of the band’s later material that surfaced in various forms over the years.

Read More: Top 10 Velvet Underground Songs

# 7 – Love Letter – Bonnie Raitt

Next up on our list of great rock songs about letters is Bonnie Raitt’s “Love Letter,” a fiery declaration of longing, heartbreak, and raw emotion. Released on her 1989 album Nick of Time, “Love Letter” showcases Raitt’s masterful blend of blues, rock, and pop, capturing the complexities of love in just a few verses. Recorded at Ocean Way Recording in Los Angeles, California, and produced by Don Was, the song features Raitt on lead vocals and slide guitar, with a lineup that includes Michael Landau (guitar), Ricky Fataar (drums), James “Hutch” Hutchinson (bass), and Benmont Tench (keyboards).

Read More: 10 Essential Bonnie Raitt Songs

# 6 – Write Me A Letter – Aerosmith

Continuing our exploration of rock songs about letters, “Write Me a Letter” by Aerosmith takes us back to the raw, unfiltered sound of the band’s early days. Featured on their 1973 self-titled debut album, Aerosmith, this song captures the spirit of a young band that was hungry, driven, and ready to make its mark on the rock landscape. Recorded at Intermedia Studios in Boston, Massachusetts, and produced by Adrian Barber, “Write Me a Letter” showcases the band’s original lineup: Steven Tyler (vocals), Joe Perry (guitar), Brad Whitford (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), and Joey Kramer (drums). With its gritty blues-rock vibe and emotionally charged lyrics, this song is a testament to Aerosmith’s early style and their roots in the blues.

# 5 – Take A Letter Maria – R.B.Graves

Adding a twist of soul to our list of great rock songs about letters is R.B. Greaves’ 1969 hit, “Take a Letter, Maria.” This song stands out for its blend of rock, pop, and soul, capturing a moment of personal and professional upheaval with a catchy, yet poignant narrative. Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, “Take a Letter, Maria” was produced by the legendary Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, and featured backing by the renowned Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. With its infectious melody, Latin-inspired rhythm, and relatable storyline, the song became a major hit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling over a million copies.

# 4 – Blue Letter – Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac’s “Blue Letter” injects a rock-driven urgency into our list of great songs about letters. Tucked away on their self-titled 1975 album, often referred to as the “White Album.” “Blue Letter” is a gem that encapsulates the band’s blend of folk-rock roots with their evolving pop sensibility. The song was recorded at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, and produced by Fleetwood Mac alongside Keith Olsen. It features the lineup that would soon become legendary: Lindsey Buckingham (guitar, vocals), Stevie Nicks (vocals), Christine McVie (keyboards, vocals), John McVie (bass), and Mick Fleetwood (drums). With its driving rhythm, tight harmonies, and an electric energy that hints at the band’s soon-to-be iconic sound, “Blue Letter” stands out as a powerful early collaboration between Buckingham and Nicks.

# 3 – Message In A Bottle – The Police

Our list of great rock songs about letters would be incomplete without “Message in a Bottle,” the 1979 hit by The Police. As one of the band’s most iconic tracks, this song captures the despair and isolation of unrequited communication while wrapping it in a lively reggae-rock beat that helped define their sound. Featured on their second album, Reggatta de Blanc, “Message in a Bottle” was recorded at Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead, England, and produced by the band’s long-time collaborator Nigel Gray alongside The Police. It features the core trio of Sting (vocals, bass), Andy Summers (guitar), and Stewart Copeland (drums)—at the height of their creative chemistry. The track went on to become The Police’s first number-one single in the UK, cementing their status as one of the leading bands of the post-punk era.

Read More: 10 Most Underrated Police Songs

# 2 – Please Mr. Postman – The Beatles

“Please Mr. Postman” by The Beatles injects a classic touch of pop-rock into our list of great songs about letters. Originally a Motown hit for The Marvelettes in 1961, The Beatles’ version, released on their second studio album With the Beatles in 1963, brings a distinct British Invasion energy to this tale of eager anticipation. Recorded at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London, under the production of the legendary George Martin, The Beatles’ cover captures the band at their early, energetic peak. Featuring John Lennon on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Paul McCartney on bass and backing vocals, George Harrison on lead guitar and backing vocals, and Ringo Starr on drums, their rendition remains a testament to the group’s ability to take American R&B hits and reshape them into their unique style.

Read More: Top 10 Beatles Songs 1963

# 1 – The Letter – The Box Tops

The Box Tops - The Letter/ Neon Rainbow & 14 Bonus Tracks

Adding a touch of soulful grit to our list of great rock songs about letters, “The Letter” by The Box Tops captures the urgency and longing of love separated by distance in a compact, under two-minute masterpiece. Released in 1967, “The Letter” became an instant classic, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying there for four weeks, making it one of the shortest chart-topping songs in history. Recorded at American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, and produced by the legendary Dan Penn, the track features Alex Chilton on lead vocals, who was just sixteen years old at the time, alongside the seasoned Memphis session musicians who gave the song its distinctive, soulful feel.

Read More: Top 10 Box Tops Songs