Mr. Postman
Photo courtesy of Street Scene Photo
December in southern California is normally warm and sunny. These students on the San Diego State University campus are clearly enjoying the beautiful day. The girl on the left is wearing a empire-waist white dress and a Kelly-green sweater. She has a unique shoulder bag. Her pal on the right has on blue jeans and a newsboy hat. Both have on their big winter boots in case the weather turns bad.
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds
–Postman’s Creed, 1912
The United States Postal Service creed is inscribed on the main post office building at 34th Street and 8th Avenue in New York city. Snow, rain, heat, gloom –these are not problems for a postman in southern California.
Today’s youtube is Please, Mr, Postman performed by The Beatles on a television show in England. The song was realeased on their second album With The Beatles. I think this was lip-synched to their record.
This is a really old Beatles version when before they became famous. They didn’t even have their famous mop tops yet. You can here how that ended it when performing live without the fade like on the record. Great stuff!
The original version of Please, Mr. Postman performed by The Marvelettes. It was a Number 1 hit on the pop singles chart in 1961. The Marvelettes recording features lead singer Gladys Horton. Background vocals were by Wanda Young and Georgeanna Tillman.
Original recording of Please Mr. Postman by the Marvelettes.
Here is a version without the backup singers. Gladys Horton has very clear voice, but the song is definitely missing something without her backup singers.
And here is just the Instrumental Version so you can sing along with it.
The Marvelettes: PLEASE MR. POSTMAN
Marvelettes: D-Bm-G-A
Beatles: A-F#m-D-E
D
(Wait) Woah yes, wait a minute, Mister Postman
Bm
(Wait) wait, Mister Postman
D
(Please, Mister Postman, look and see)
Woah, yeah
Bm
(Is there’s a letter in your bag for me)
Please, please Mister Postman
G
(Cause it’s been a mighty long time)
Woah, yeah
A
(Since I’ve heard from this boyfriend of mine)
D
There must be some word today (doo)
Bm
From my boyfriend so far away (wah-doo)
G
Please Mister Postman, look and see (wah-doo)
A
Is there a letter, a letter for me (wah-doo)
I’ve been standing here waiting, Mister Postman (doo wait, wait)
So, oh, so patiently (wah-doo wait, wait)
For just a card or just a letter (wah-doo wait, wait)
Saying he’s returning home to me (wah-doo)
Please, Mister Postman
(Please, Mister Postman, look and see)
Woah, yeah
(Is there’s a letter in your bag for me)
Please, please Mister Postman
(Cause it’s been a mighty long time)
Woah, yeah
(Since I’ve heard from this boyfriend of mine)
So many days, you passed me by (doo, wait, Mr. Postman)
You saw the tears standing in my eyes (doo, wait, Mr. Postman)
You wouldn’t stop to make me feel better (doo, wait, Mr. Postman)
By leaving me a card or a letter
Please, Mister Postman, look and see (Postman, Postman)
Is there a letter, oh yeah, in your bag for me (Postman, Postman)
You know it’s been so long (Postman, Postman)
Yes, since I’ve heard from this boyfriend of mine (Postman, Postman)
You better wait a minute, wait a minute
(Wait, wait a minute, Mister Postman)
Woah, you better wait a minute
(Wait, wait a minute, Mister Postman)
Please, please, Mister Postman
(Wait, wait a minute, Mister Postman)
Please check and see
Just one more time for me
You better wait, wait a minute (Wait, wait a minute, Mister Postman)
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute (Wait, wait a minute, Mister Postman)
Please, Mister Postman (Wait, wait a minute, Mister Postman)
Deliver the letter
The sooner the better
Wait a minute, wait a minute (Wait, wait a minute, Mister Postman)
Wait a minute, please Mister Postman, wait (Wait, wait a minute, Mister Postman)
Wait a minute, wait a minute (Wait, wait a minute, Mister Postman)
Here is a live version by the Beatles tribute band The Cavern Beat (Al Wagner, Jim Irizarry, Armando Regalado, James Lynch). Excellent performance.