R&B

The 1950s and early 1960s are a fun time to write about because of all the pioneering in music going on. “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes is one of the great golden oldies and hails from the early Motown songs.

There were no smart phones — or even e-mail yet. There’s just the hope that the postman has a letter from her boyfriend who is “so far away.” Whether he is in military service or just somewhere traveling, you can feel the urgency in the words. This song by The Marvelettes, a girl group from Michigan, was their debut single on Motown’s Tamla label. The song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (the first Motown song to reach that position) and #1 on the R&B Chart in 1961. The Marvelettes had personnel changes over the years, but for this song, the group included Gladys Horton (lead), Wanda Young, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart, and Katherine Anderson. “Please Mr. Postman” features instrumentation from The Funk Brothers (session musicians), which included Marvin Gaye on drums.

The Marvelettes were school mates from Inkster, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. They had hits with “Please Mr. Postman,” which earned an RIAA Gold Record, as did “Don’t Mess with Bill.”

Here are the lyrics to “Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes:

“Wait!!
Oh yes, wait a minute Mr. Postman
Wait!! Waaaiiit mr. Postman…

Please Mister Postman, look and see
Oh, yeah
If there’s a letter in your bag for me
Please, please Mr. Postman
You know it’s been a long time
Oh, yeah
Since I’ve heard from that boyfriend of mine.

There must be some word today
From my boyfriend so far away
Please Mr. Postman look and see
Is there a letter, a letter for me?

I’ve been standing here waiting Mr. Postman
Sooo, so patiently
For just a card, or just a letter
Saying he’s returning home to me.
Please Mr. Postman,

Mr. Postman look and see
Ooh, yeaah
If there’s a letter in your bag for me
You know it’s been so long
Oh, yeah
Since I heard from that boyfriend of mine

So many days you passed me by
You saw the tears standing in my eye
You wouldn’t stop to make me feel better
By leaving me a card or a letter
Please Mr. Postman look and see
Is there a letter, oh yeah
In your bag for me
You know it’s been so long
Yes, since I heard from this boyfriend of mine
You better wait a minute
Wait a minute
Oh, you better wait a minute
Please, please Mr. Postman
Please check and see
Just one more time for me
You better wait, wait a minute
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute
Please Mr. Postman
Deliver the letter
The sooner the better
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Wait a minute, please Mr. Postman
Wait a minute, wait a minute”

For another song by The Marvelettes: “Don’t Mess With Bill.”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, early Motwon, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for our YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes.