Return To Sender

Album: Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
Charted: 1 2
Play Video
  • Return to sender
    Return to sender

    I gave a letter to the postman
    He put it his sack
    Bright and 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 lover's 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 and early next morning
    It came right back to me

    (She wrote upon it)
    Return to sender
    Address unknown
    No such number
    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

    Ah, return to sender
    Return to sender
    Return to sender
    Return to sender Writer/s: Otis Blackwell, Winfield Scott
    Publisher: RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Raleigh Music Publishing LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 14

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1962 {November 11th} "Return To Sender" by Elvis peaked at #2 {for 5 weeks} on Billboard's* Hot Top 100 chart, the five weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for those five weeks was "Big Girls Don't Cry" by The Four Seasons...
    "Return Tender" reached #1 in Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Sweden...
    The King had five other records peak at #2; "Love Me", "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck", "A Fool Such As I", "Can't Help Falling In Love", and "Burning Love"...
    And let us not forget, he had eighteen records that made it to #1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart...
    May the King R.I.P. {1935 - 1977}...
    * And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on November 11th, 1962:
    At #3. "He's A Rebel" by The Crystals
    #4. "All Alone Am I" by Brenda Lee
    #5. "Next Door To An Angel" by Neil Sedaka
    #6. "Gina" by Johnny Mathis
    #7. "Bobby's Girl" by Marcie Blane
    #8. "Don't Hang Up" by The Orlons
    #9. "Limbo Rock" by Chubby Checker
    #10. "The Cha-Cha-Cha" by Bobby Rydell
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 11, 1962, "Big Girls Don't Cry" by the Four Seasons peaked at #1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, and it remained in the top spot for five weeks...
    And for the five weeks it was at #1, the #2 record for all five of those weeks was "Return to Sender" by Elvis, and that would be it's peak position on the Top 100.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaSteve, like the sax as well.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, Ny'I gave a letter to the postman,
    He put it his sack.
    Bright in early next morning,
    He brought my letter back.'
    So here's some obscure trivia:
    On February 15th 1842 in New York City, the City Dispatch Post was the first post office to use adhesive stamps...
    And one hundred-twenty years and ten months later on October 14th, 1962 Elvis' "Return To Sender" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #68; four weeks later on November 11th it would peak at #2 {for 5 weeks} and it stayed on the chart for 16 weeks...
    Of course because its Elvis, the record's B-side, "Were Do You Come From", also made the Top 100, though for just one week at position #99...
    The King had five other records that peaked at #2 on the Top 100; they were "Love Me", Wear My Ring Around Your Neck", "A Fool Such As I", "Can't Help Falling In Love", and "Burning Love"...
    Let us not forget, he had eighteen records that made it to #1.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
    It's been learned that composer Winfield Scott died October 26th, 2015 at the age of 95...
    Winfield co-wrote "Return To Sender" and "One Broken Heart For Sale" (both with Otis Blackwell) as well as LaVern Baker's hit, "Tweedlee Dee," Connie Francis' "Many Tears Ago" and Bill Haley's "Burn That Candle"...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 21st 1962, Elvis Presley's eleventh feature movie, 'Girls! Girls! Girls!', opened in theaters across the U.S.A. and Canada...
    The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for 'Best Motion Picture - Musical'...
    One month earlier October 14th, 1962 "Return to Sender", which was featured in the movie, entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #68; and on November 11th, 1962 it peaked at #2* {for 5 weeks} and spent 16 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #5 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    The record's B-side, "Were Do You Come From", which was also from the movie, made the Top 100 for a single week, at position #99...
    * The five weeks it was at #2; the #1 record for those five weeks was "Big Girls Don't Cry" by the Four Seasons.
  • Michael from Eastleigh, United Kingdomi agree with all the comments. a great song smooth silky vocal by elvis and good sax. col. parker actually insisted that the song be included in the film ' girls,girls, girls because elvis liked it so much. producer hal wallis didn't want it in the film because he thought the film would run over time, but parker made sure elvis got his way. also did you know that the songs composer otis blackwell never met elvis, because he said that he [blackwell] might be disappointed. i heard he later regretted not meeting elvis.
  • Rick from Belfast, Mewhat can I say?....this is Elvis at his best......also a great song to dance with the one you love
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaLove the Baritone Sax and vibrola guitar in
    this song by sung Elvis...it is quite entrtaining to watch him perform this on the big screen.
  • Daniel from Edmonton, AbRegarding the comment, "I never understood the..." is actually referring to the lyrics, "Sent it special D" which means, special Delivery!
  • John from Brisbane, United StatesI never understood the line ,I sent a special de bright and early next morning it came right back to me,What is a special de?
  • Kristian from Cleveland, Txthis is my favorite song, and its song in g.i blues
  • George from Belleville, NjThis is a classic early sixties rock song and the performance of it in the movie Girls girls girls is highly entertaining to watch.There's just nobody quite like Elvis in the music business.

    George, Belleville,N.J.
  • Maha from Auckland, New ZealandCertainly is one my favourite Elvis songs!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?