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Tune Req: Plain Greeting Card Signed Just a Friend

19 Jan 16 - 08:28 PM (#3766821)
Subject: Tune Req: Plain Greeting Card Signed Just a Friend
From: cnd

I'm looking for a song, kind of modern-bluegrass sounding, with lyrics as follows:

The postman stopped by
And went on his way
He dropped cards and letters
On my birthday
I almost ran through them
Till I spied one day
Just a plain greeting card
Signed just a friend

Other lyrics include things like "there's still sweet memories," "sunshine and rainbows," and "joy and pain," and "my precious darling but now just a friend."

Thanks for any help.


20 Jan 16 - 10:42 AM (#3766941)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Plain Greeting Card Signed Just a Friend
From: GUEST,#

1) After hours of Mr Google I have determined that if the song or poem is on the internet it's done in some code known only to top honchos of the NSA.

2) Get this thread back up top while asking if you recall anything else about the lyrics or where you came across them.


20 Jan 16 - 12:16 PM (#3766965)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Plain Greeting Card Signed Just a Friend
From: cnd

Well, I've got a recording of it, but it's hard to understand what they say. A friend shared it with me, and he doesn't know the name either. Lyrics go like this:

Just a friend who brought sunshine and rain
Just a friend who brought joy and pain
They're still sweet memories I'll keep till the end
Was my precious darlin, but now just a friend

The postman stopped by and went on his way
He dropped cards and letters on my birthday
I almost ran through them till I spied one day
Just a plain greeting card signed just a friend

Just a friend who brought sunshine and rain
Just a friend who brought joy and pain
They're still sweet memories I'll keep till the end
Was my precious darlin, but now just a friend

The postmark named a city far far away
The one that it's sent in recalls bitter days
The tear stains on it I could plainly see
The postcard cost nickels it's worth millions to me

Just a friend who brought sunshine and rain
Just a friend who brought joy and pain
They're still sweet memories I'll keep till the end
Was my precious darlin, but now just a friend

The song's about 2:30 long, and has heavy violin instrumentation (but not soloing except for 1 solo before "the postmark named"). It's sung by two males with a tenor voice the main one and a higher voice on backing vocals.

Thanks for your help.


20 Jan 16 - 12:20 PM (#3766967)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Plain Greeting Card Signed Just a Friend
From: cnd

Update: using the chorus I have found the following from Indiana State University's online library

Title: Just a friend.
First Line: The postman dropped by Then went on his way
Chorus: Just a friend who brought sunshine and rain
Music by:
Words by: Anglin, Jack, Johnnie Wright and Jim Anglin.
P/P/D: Nashville, TN : Acuff-Rose, c1951.
Location: SPC, KIRK CM 1950-1951

http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/kirk/country2.html


20 Jan 16 - 12:52 PM (#3766976)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Plain Greeting Card Signed Just a Friend
From: cnd

Nevermind, I found it. It was "Just A Friend" by Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, off their album "Poor Leroy's Almanac." You can hear it on Spotify if you want to, but there appears to be no version of it online except about 37 minutes into this audio thing:

https://archive.org/details/MusicForTheMountainBluegrass-Show53-6-5-15


20 Jan 16 - 01:10 PM (#3766979)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Plain Greeting Card Signed Just a Friend
From: GUEST,#

Thank you very much, cnd. Just gave it a listen and it's got seriously good harmony on it. I'm glad you found it.