Tear-Stained Letter

"Tear-Stained Letter" is the opening track from Richard Thompson's 1983 album Hand of Kindness. The song has been recorded by others, including a notable hit version by Jo-El Sonnier in 1988.

Content

With a strong zydeco feel, the song's length is 4 minutes and 40 seconds. The main riff is performed on saxophones by Pete Thomas and Pete Zorn, who also performs the background vocals, and on accordion by John Kirkpatrick. The coda features a duet between a sax solo, accordion solo, and guitar solo by Richard Thompson.
The song is in the key of G major, with a fast tempo in time. It uses a chord pattern of E⁷–A–E⁷–A–D–G on the verses, and B⁷–C–D–G twice on the chorus.
The lyrics feature a narrator who has broken up with a tumultuous romantic partner: "Just when I thought that things would get better / Right through the door come a tear-stained letter".

Personnel

Richard Thompson – guitar, vocals
Dave Pegg – bass guitar
Dave Mattacks – drums
Simon Nicol – guitar
Pete Zorn – saxophone, backing vocals
Pete Thomas – saxophone
Clive Gregson – backing vocals
John Kirkpatrick – accordion
Jo-El Sonnier version

singer Jo-El Sonnier covered the song on his 1988 album Come On Joe. His version was released as a single in 1988, reaching number nine on the Hot Country Songs charts. Kenny Greenberg plays lead guitar on Sonnier's version. Actor Judge Reinhold appears in the music video for the song.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Other versions

covered the song on her 1996 album The Trouble with [the Truth (album)|The Trouble with the Truth].
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes covered the song on their 2005 album Into the Harbour.