Written by: Roberts-Katz-Clayton
Recorded: 29 January 1969
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Glyn Johns
Released: 28 October 1996
John Lennon: vocals, guitar
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
George Harrison: guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
Anthology 3
Originally released by Buddy Holly in 1957, Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues had been a part of The Beatles' live repertoire until 1962. However, they didn't recorded it until January 1969, during the Get Back sessions at the Apple Studios in London.
Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues had been the b-side of Holly's US hit single Words Of Love, itself covered by The Beatles on 1964's Beatles For Sale. In the UK it had been an album track on the 1958 collection titled Buddy Holly.
The song was among a number of cover versions performed by The Beatles during the Get Back sessions. The group's arrangement was slower than Holly's, emphasising the sad, blues lyrics in place of the more uptempo pop original.
Lyrics
She wrote me only one sad line
Told me she’s no longer mine
Shoo shoo mailman, that will do for some time
Mailman, bring me no more blues
Mailman, bring me no more blues
One more heartache is all I can use
Mailman, bring me no more blues
Mailman, bring me no more blues
I finally heard Holly's version, close to 20 years after first hearing the Beatles version. Writing that the Beatles' "arrangement was slower than Holly's, emphasizing the sad, blues lyrics in place of the more uptempo pop original" is true, but doesn't begin to describe how dramatically changed this song is from Holly's tuneful, melodic original. A more faithful cover a la "Words of Love" would have sounded great on an early Beatles record.
When I first heard this, I thought it was a foreign version of "Revolution."
Now I think it heavily influenced the latter. Especially hearing this 1969 version.
Cool to know how long it had been in their repertoire - they were all big Buddy Holly fans...
I would argue that the backing vocal is George, rather than Paul. It's not easy to always tell, but in this case, I hear Mr. Harrison.
I think exactly the same!
I think these are the correct lyrics:
She wrote me only one sad line
Told me she's no longer mine
Shoo shoo mailman, that will do for some time
Mailman, bring me no more blues
Mailman, bring me no more blues
One more heartache is all I can use
Mailman, bring me no more blues
Mailman, bring me no more blues
Thanks Rafael - that makes more sense. I've amended the article.
Hi Joe,
"Mailman" is one of my favorite Fab cover versions! I have a correction, though: The name of the first composer should read "Roberts," not "Robets."
Ruth Roberts, who passed away on June 30, 2011, also co-authored some well-known sports-related tunes, including “Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A.,” “It’s a Beautiful Day for a Ballgame" and “Meet the Mets.”
Her New York times obit is here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/arts/music/ruth-roberts-meet-the-mets-songwriter-dies-at-84.html?ref=deathsobituaries
Sorry, that was a typo. I've fixed it now. Thanks for the information.