MAIL ORDER ANNIE

One of Harry's simpler songs. The words need very little explanation. Once again this is a study of loneliness similar to that used to such good effect in the classic Chapin song Better Place to Be.

Harry was great at painting pictures of lonely, isolated, ordinary people and this is a classic example. Two lonely people meeting through the mail, coming together to live out their lives. Perhaps the American Dream has left them behind or perhaps this is the start of their American Dream.

It is a song of hope because deep down you just know they are going to come to terms with their lives and that they will find their own kind of happiness. Remember those words from Better Place to Be. "If you want to come with me, then that's alright with me, because I'm going nowhere and anywhere's a better place to be." They could just have easily have been tacked onto this song.

       At first I did not think it could be you.
       But you're the only one that got off the train.
       So you must be my wife Miss Annie Halsey
       Yes, I guess I am your husband, Hello I'm Harry Crane.

       Mail Order Annie, never mind your crying.
       Your tears are sweet rain in my empty life.
       Mail Order Annie, can't you see I'm trying
       To tell you that I'm glad you're here,
       You are the woman who's come to be my wife.

       You know you're not as pretty as I dreamed you'd be,
       But then I'm not no handsome fancy Dan.
       And out here looks are really not important.
       It's what's inside a woman when she's up against the land.

       Mail Order Annie, never mind your crying.
       Your tears are sweet rain in my empty life.
       Mail Order Annie, can't you see I'm trying
       To tell you that I'm glad you're here,
       You are the woman who's come to be my wife.

       You know it's not no easy life you're entering.
       The winter wind comes whistling through the cracks there in the sod.
       You know you'll never have too many neighbors.
       There's you Girl, and there's me, and there's God.

       You know I'm just a dirty man from the North Dakota plains.
       You're one girl from the city who's been thrown out on her own.
       I'm standing here not sure of what to say to you
       'Cepting Mail Order Annie,  lets you and me go home. 

       Mail Order Annie, never mind your crying.
       Your tears are sweet rain in my empty life.
       Mail Order Annie, can't you see I'm trying
       To tell you that I'm glad you're here,
       You are the woman who's come to be my wife.