Now Johnny Cash Can Be On Your Tear-Stained Letter

The U.S. Postal Service is issuing a new Forever stamp later this year that will feature country singer Johnny Cash. The stamp will be the first in the Postal Service’s new Music Icons series, although it has not announced the date for the Cash stamp yet.

The Postal Service explains that the stamp is designed to look like a 45 rpm record sleeve. Frank Bez took the photo during a photo shoot for the album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash (1963). Greg Breeding designed the stamp.

And what better way to celebrate the news than with one of my favorite Johnny Cash songs from his American Recordings period, “Tear-Stained Letter.” The song, written by Cash, appeared on 2003’s American IV: The Man Comes Around, but it actually goes back much further. Another version of the song appeared on Cash’s 1972 A Thing Called Love, which apparently was never released on CD (but is available as an MP3).

The original 1972 version of “Tear-Stained Letter” is a slow sad song, as a lover makes one last attempt to win back his love. But Cash reworked the song for the 2003 version, adding some new lyrics and upbeat music. With the changes, Cash turned the sad plea into a message to make the ex-lover feel guilty (“I’m gonna to bring back to your mind / What you said about always being true.”). Here is the updated 2003 version.

Here is the 1972 version of “Tear-Stained Letter.” (Note that the Johnny Cash song is not the song of the same name written by Richard Thompson and recorded by other artists like Jo-El Sonnier and Patty Loveless).

Now, whether sending a sad or happy tear-stained letter, you can include Johnny Cash on the envelope taking the letter on its journey to your lost love. Or you can just use it to pay your bills.

Which version of “Tear-Stained Letter” do you like best? Leave your two cents in the comments.

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Author: chimesfreedom

Editor-in-chief, New York. View all posts by chimesfreedom