ADD: Love Letters in the Sand (1931)

Subject: Love letters in the sand
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 05:24 PM

A friend has asked me to try and get the words of Pat Boone's song "Love letters in the Sand": can't find it in the DT. Can anyone help? (Friend doesn't have a computer but has heard me rave about Mudcat, so don't let me down!) Tattie B

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Love letters in the sand
From: nutty
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 05:57 PM

The lyrics are here

Pat Boone

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Love letters in the sand
From: nutty
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 06:00 PM

More info here

lyrics world

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Love letters in the sand
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 07:43 PM

Thanks a bunch for the quick response! Tattie B

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Love letters in the sand
From: Big Tim
Date: 16 Aug 01 - 03:38 PM

Great folk song.

Subject: Lyr Add: LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND (Kenny/Coots)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Mar 19 - 10:17 PM

Although people associate this song with Pat Boone, because he had a hit record in 1957, the song is actually older than he is. It also has verses he didn't sing.

From the sheet music at the National Library of Australia (which also has the chords):


LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND
Words by Nick & Charles Kenny, music by J. Fred Coots, ©1931.

1. The sunbeams kissed the sands.
My fate was in your hands
The day I met you, dear;
And though I find you've gone,
Your mem'ry lingers on.
I can't forget you, dear.

CHORUS: On a day like today
We passed the time away
Writing love letters in the sand.
How you laughed when I cried
Each time I saw the tide
Take our love letters in the sand!
You made a vow that you would always be true,
But somehow that vow meant nothing to you.
Now my poor heart aches;
With ev'ry wave it breaks
Over love letters in the sand.

2. While precious teardrops fall,
Your mem'ry I recall
And days that used to be.
The skies were blue above.
It was the dawn of love,
But you've forgotten me. CHORUS


Some 1931 recordings:
Ambrose and His Orchestra – YouTube
BBC Dance Orchestra (Jack Payne, vocalist) – YouTube
Embassy Dance Orchestra – YouTube
Gene Austin & His Orchestra – Internet Archive
Lee Morse & Her Bluegrass Boys – YouTube
Lloyd Keating & His Music – YouTube
Majestic Dance Orchestra (Victor Irwin) – YouTube
Ruth Etting – YouTube
Ted Black & His Orchestra (Tom Brown, vocalist) – Internet Archive
The Radiolites (Smith Ballew, vocalist) – YouTube

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Love Letters in the Sand (Pat Boone)
From: GUEST,Jerome Clark
Date: 22 Mar 19 - 07:57 PM

The definitive version of the song -- Pat Boone got it from him -- is by the recently deceased, legendary bluegrass singer Mac Wiseman. Wiseman had a huge repertoire of folk, parlor ballads, vintage pop, hymns, and more. He was one of the great voices in American music. He even recorded an album with John Prine. "Love Letters" is among his most celebrated recordings, along with "Homestead on the Farm," aka "I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home." Gordon Lightfoot, a huge Wiseman fan, quotes the latter title in his "Carefree Highway."

"Love Letters in the Sand" is not a folk song, however. It's a pre-rock'n'roll popular song from the early 20th Century.