Country weepers are part of my DNA.
I played this one for my wife (not about her, of course) and she found it so sad, I had to write a happy song for her, too.
Her name was Darla – I loved her so
thought we’d be married – I did not know
til I went to the mailbox today
to find that she didn’t feel the same way
Wrote me a letter – oh yes, she did
told me secrets she had kept hid
such an old-fashioned thing to do
wrote me a letter to say I don’t love you
Oh, lovely Darla – how could this be?
all those hugs and kisses you gave me
On parchment paper, in fountain ink
hand-written words that made my heart sink
Wrote me a letter to say we’re parting ways
no one does that kind of thing these days
here’s one more arrow that sure does sting
the letter did not include the ring
@ambroise Mar 2022
I love that the guy takes some time to point out "really? a letter? in the present time ?"
I suppose it still beats a text message breakup.
Lovely banjo. Fits the sad story so well.
@nancycunning Mar 2022
Nothing like a sad story song with a banjo and a walking down the quarter-mile drive back from the mailbox groove. Hope your wife liked the happy song too.
@guatecoop Mar 2022
That combination of acoustic and banjo is really nice and you play both so well. Yeah, the song is sad, but the funny thing about this style is that they are almost comforting. I certainly wouldn't know that this wasn't a style that you weren't familiar with. The song sounds so fluid and natural...your melody matches the lyric very well, which communicates the lament. Very well done!
@janeg Feb 2022
I guess a lot of songs about letters are out-dated now! Though fountain pens and ink have made a comeback. How rude not to return the ring.
@danvaillancourt Feb 2022
Great heartbreak song! Love the idea of the letter written with parchment and ink.
@berni1954 Feb 2022
Loved this! And my Dad would have too!
I was brought up in Africa, but my Dad was a massive country fan (Ernest Tubb, the Hanks (Williams & Snow), etc. And their songs echoed across the Lagos lagoon most every night. Story songs like this were my Dad's favourite and were imprinted on me. So this was right on the button for me.
Love that last verse! So she hocked the ring.... Gosh darn it!
@tseaver Feb 2022
Nice write: an old-fashioned setting for a timeless story. The banjo provides a perfect frame here. Love the "gotcha" at the last.
@chinacat Feb 2022
"wrote me a letter to say I don’t love you'. Love it! Great tune!
@billwhite51 Feb 2022
love that old tume country music, this could hve been cominng out of the radio alongside lefty Frissell on the dsy i was born in '51/
@katbasie Feb 2022
I love the banjo and I love this
@timfatchen Feb 2022
Dear John, I mean Chip...and it's a seriously sharp sting, that last line. Enjoyed your banjo for this weepie!
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
My fav banjo is back! Nice storytelling, i like the dating of parchment and ink