Lyrics The Letter Home - Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet

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