Originally the debut single in 1961 by Motown group The Marvelettes, ‘Please Mister Postman’ was recorded two years later by The Beatles for their second album With The Beatles.

The second album was slightly better than the first, inasmuch as we spent more time on it, and there were more original songs. We did ‘Money’ for that album, and other cover versions: ‘Please Mister Postman’, ‘You Really Got A Hold On Me’ and ‘Devil In Her Heart’, an obscure American song by The Donays.

In the studio

‘Please Mister Postman’ had been a part of The Beatles’ set since 1962, but during the recording it took some time to get right.

It took nine takes to perfect, and was completed in the morning of 30 July 1963, the same day that they recorded ‘It Won’t Be Long’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, and ‘All My Loving’, plus edit pieces for ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’.

John Lennon took lead vocals on ‘Please Mister Postman’, double tracking his performance for added weight. Paul McCartney and George Harrison provided backing vocals, resulting in one of the more effective cover versions on With The Beatles.

BBC recordings

The Beatles also recorded ‘Please Mister Postman’ three times for BBC radio. The first was on their debut radio session, for Teenager’s Turn – Here We Go.

The show was recorded on 7 March 1962, and broadcast the following day. ‘Please Mister Postman’ was the last of three songs recorded, the others being ‘Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream?)’, and ‘Memphis, Tennessee’.

The band’s second BBC recording was for Pop Go The Beatles. It was recorded on 10 July 1963, and broadcast on 30 July.

The songs recorded were ‘Memphis, Tennessee’, ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘Matchbox’, ‘Please Mister Postman’, and ‘The Hippy Hippy Shake’. These versions of ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’, ‘Till There Was You’, and ‘Please Mister Postman’ were all included on 2013’s On Air – Live At The BBC Volume 2.

The third and final BBC recording was the only version of the song recorded after the release of With The Beatles. It was for the show From Us To You, recorded on 28 February 1964 and broadcast on 30 March.

The songs performed by The Beatles were ‘You Can’t Do That’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’, ‘Please Mister Postman’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘This Boy’, and ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’.

Lyrics

Wait!
Oh yes, wait just a minute mister postman
Wait!
Wait mister postman

(Mister postman look and see) oh yeah
(If there’s a letter in the bag for me)
Please, please mister postman
(I’ve been waiting a long long time) oh, yeah
(Since I heard from that girl of mine)

There must be some word today
From my girlfriend so far away
Please mister postman look and see
If there’s a letter, a letter for me

I’ve been standing here waiting Mister Postman
So patiently
For just a card or just a letter
Saying she’s returning home to me

Please Mister Postman
(Mister postman look and see) oh yeah
(If there’s a letter in the bag for me)
Please mister postman
(I’ve been waiting a long long time) oh, yeah
(Since I heard from that girl of mine)

So many days you past me by
See the tears standing in my eye
You didn’t stop to make me feel better
By leaving me a card or letter

Mister Postman, look and see
Is there a letter, yeah, for me
I’ve been waiting such a long long time
Since I heard from that girlfriend of mine

You gotta, wait a minute wait a minute oh yeah
Wait a minute wait a minute oh yeah
(You gotta) check and see one more time for me

You gotta, wait a minute wait a minute oh yeah
Mister Postman, oh yeah
Deliver the letter, the sooner the better

You gotta, wait a minute wait a minute oh yeah
Wait a minute wait a minute oh yeah
you gotta, wait a minute wait a minute oh yeah
you gotta, wait a minute wait a minute oh yeah


Previous song: ‘Till There Was You’
Next song: ‘Roll Over Beethoven’
Published: |