Return To Sender – Elvis Presley

Introduction

Return to Sender: A Heartbreak Hit with Postal Flair

Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender” isn’t just a catchy tune, it’s a snapshot of 1962 America, wrapped in heartbreak and delivered with the King’s signature swagger. Though credited to Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell, the song’s origins are shrouded in mystery, with some whispers attributing it to Presley himself.

Released as part of the soundtrack for the film “Girls! Girls! Girls!”, “Return to Sender” tells the story of a love gone sour. Our Elvis croons about a lover’s spat, a hastily scribbled apology, and the crushing blow of seeing it returned, stamped “Address unknown.” The lyrics paint a vivid picture: the green eyes of a new flame, the sting of rejection, and the desperate plea of “But my letter keeps coming back.”

Beyond the lovelorn narrative, “Return to Sender” captured the anxieties of a rapidly changing America. The rise of suburbs and the decline of small-town familiarity meant addresses could vanish overnight, leaving hearts lost like undelivered mail. This resonated with a generation on the move, chasing dreams and leaving pieces of themselves behind.

The song’s success was undeniable. It topped charts in the US and UK, becoming one of Presley’s biggest hits. It even earned a commemorative postage stamp in 1993, a fitting tribute to a song that forever intertwined love, loss, and the lonely thump of a returned letter.

So next time you hear “Return to Sender,” remember it’s more than just a catchy tune. It’s a time capsule of teenage angst, a testament to the power of a handwritten apology, and a reminder that even the King of Rock and Roll wasn’t immune to the sting of a love letter returned.

Video

Lyrics

Return to sender
Return to sender

I gave a letter to the postman
He put it his sack
Bright in early next morning
He brought my letter back

She wrote upon it
Return to sender, address unknown
No such number, no such zone

We had a quarrel, a lovers’ spat
I write I’m sorry but my letter keeps coming back

So then I dropped it in the mailbox
And sent it special D
Bright in early next morning
It came right back to me

She wrote upon it
Return to sender, address unknown
No such person, no such zone

This time I’m gonna take it myself
And put it right in her hand
And if it comes back the very next day
Then I’ll understand the writing on it

Return to sender, address unknown
No such number, no such zone

Return to sender
Return to sender
Return to sender
Return to sender