About the song
While there’s not a lot of public information available about the specific origin of “Letter to Lucille” by Tom Jones, here’s what we can glean from the lyrics and its release date:
Background:
- Released in 1973, the song didn’t achieve major chart success compared to some of Tom Jones’ other hits.
- It’s unclear who wrote the song, though some sources credit it simply as “Traditional.” This suggests it might be an adaptation of an older folk or blues song.
Themes:
- Enduring Love: The central theme is the narrator’s unwavering love for Lucille despite being imprisoned.
- Longing and Desperation: The lyrics express his intense desire to see her again and his fear of losing her after seven years of incarceration.
- Guilt and Regret: The narrator implies he might have committed a crime but would do it again just to hold Lucille.
- Plea for Help: He begs someone recently released from prison to deliver a message to Lucille, highlighting his desperation.
Possible Inspiration:
The song’s themes resonate with classic “prison ballad” motifs, which often tell stories of love and longing amidst confinement. It’s possible “Letter to Lucille” draws inspiration from this tradition.
Video
Lyrics
Somebody, please, if somebody willLet them take a letter to my girl, LucilleLet them tell her, Lord, how I’m missingHer stillI think about her constantlySomebody, please, if somebody canLet them take a letter from thisLonely manAll I ask is Lord, make her understandI’ll die if she don’t wait for meI heard a rumor from the guys in Cell AYou’ve served your time and you areLeaving todayWell, there is something you can doFor me to help your old friendHelp me, please‘Cause I’ve got seven years in thisOld penTill I’m home againSomebody, please, if somebody willLet them take a letter to my girl, LucilleLet them tell her, Lord, how I’m missingHer stillI think about her constantlySomebody, please, if somebody canLet them take a letter from thisLonely manAll I ask is, Lord, make her understandI’ll die if she don’t wait for meTo hear you tell it, you’re all innocent menBut I was guilty, and I’d do it all againJust to hold her for a minute or twoI’d steal a king’s crown, yes, I wouldIf I don’t reach that girl some way, I knowThere’ll be another man aroundSomebody, please, if somebody willLet them take a letter to my girl, LucilleLet them tell her, Lord, how I’m missingHer stillBecause I think about her constantlyUgh, somebody, please, if somebody canLet them take a letter from this lonely manAll I ask is, Lord, why don’t you make herUnderstand becauseI’ll die if she don’t wait for meOooooh, somebody, please, if somebody willLet them take a letter to my girl, LucilleLet them tell her, Lord, how I’m missingHer stillI think about her constantly…