The Letter Home

c/o St. Ignatus House, Willoughby Drive, Parrametta, New South Wales This fifth day of July, in the year of Our Lord Nineteen hundred and thirty five Why must I always apologize every time that I sit down to write? Through my own fault, I may find you're no longer living at this address Please excuse the lack of news, the feeling of strange privilege For the hour of trial, in these times of distress Mean more than years imprisoned by etiquette I can remember when we were children Though I could never imagine this day Your brother told me we'd live forever "I'll go one better," I heard myself say And it seems so strange, now that he's gone To recall all these games Though the years have divided us Friendships have strained and broken Oh, by the way, how's that girl that you wed? I hated you then, but I'm over the worst of it I can't come home, I might as well say Life is short, I shall not write again

The Letter Home Words by Declan MacManus & Paul Cassidy Music by Ian Belton & Declan MacManus Performed by Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet Produced by Kevin Killen, Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet Musicians Elvis Costello - voice Michael Thomas - violin Ian Belton - violin Paul Cassidy - viola Jacqueline Thomas - violoncello Recorded September 14-October 1, 1992, Church Studios, London Released January 15, 1993 Albums The Juliet Letters, 1993 Promos I Almost Had A Weakness, 1993 (Germany) Length 3:08 First known performance:  July 1, 1992, London, England Last known performance:  January 20, 2006, Sydney, Australia      (19 known performances, 6 as a snippet)

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: The Juliet Letters | lyrics | TJL info page 1
• Lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: The Juliet Letters