Send Me a Postcard
"Send Me a Postcard is a rock song written by Robbie van Leeuwen and first released by the Dutch band Shocking Blue as a single in December 1968.[1] It marked the debut recording with lead vocalist Mariska Veres, who had recently replaced the band's original singer Fred de Wilde, and it peaked at number 10 on the Dutch Singles Chart while spending four weeks on the chart.[2][3]" The B-side of the single was "Harley Davidson," and it was issued on the Pink Elephant label in the Netherlands before seeing various international reissues.[4] Shocking Blue, formed in 1967 in The Hague by van Leeuwen along with drummer Cor van der Beek and bassist Klaasje van der Wal, drew from psychedelic and hard rock influences in the track's crunchy guitars, organ riffs, and driving rhythm.[2] While not a major international hit, the song helped establish the band's presence in their home country ahead of their global breakthrough with "Venus" in 1970. "Send Me a Postcard" has endured through covers and adaptations, with at least 27 vocal versions recorded by artists including Bob Mould in 2019 and The DT's in 2020, alongside two instrumental takes.[1] Notable adaptations include the Finnish "Kirjoita postikorttiin" from 1971 and the Swedish "Skicka ett vykort, älskling" by Gyllene Tider in 1980, featuring lyrics by Per Gessle.[1] The original's raw energy and Veres's distinctive vocals have contributed to its cult status within 1960s rock circles.Background and Recording
Development
"Send Me a Postcard" was composed in 1968 by Robbie van Leeuwen, the guitarist and primary songwriter for Shocking Blue.[5][6] As the band's chief creative force, van Leeuwen drew from his experience in the Dutch rock scene, having previously led the Nederbeat group the Motions before forming Shocking Blue in 1967.[5][7] The song emerged during a transitional period for the band, shortly after lead vocalist Mariska Veres joined in 1968, replacing Fred de Wilde, who had been drafted into the Dutch army.[6][8] Veres, formerly with the group the Bumble Bees, brought a distinctive vocal style that complemented van Leeuwen's compositions, marking "Send Me a Postcard" as her debut single with Shocking Blue.[6][8] This creation reflected Shocking Blue's evolving sound within the late 1960s Dutch rock scene, part of the broader Nederbeat movement, where the band sought to blend psychedelic elements with accessible rock to achieve a breakthrough hit.[5][6] Van Leeuwen's songwriting aimed to capture international appeal, influenced by the counterculture trends of the era, positioning the track as a pivotal step in the band's development.[7][6]Production
The recording of "Send Me a Postcard" took place in 1968 under the production of Robbie van Leeuwen, the band's guitarist and primary songwriter.[7][6] The lineup featured Mariska Veres on lead vocals, Robbie van Leeuwen on guitar, Klaas van der Wal on bass, and Cor van der Beek on drums, marking Veres's debut with the group following her recruitment earlier that year.[7][6] Production emphasized raw, energetic guitar riffs layered with psychedelic effects, capturing a garage rock vibe through straightforward, high-energy arrangements typical of the Nederbeat movement.[9][10] The sessions were brief, aligning with the era's practice of rapid single productions to capitalize on emerging hits in the Dutch rock scene.[7]Composition
Musical Elements
"Send Me a Postcard" is classified as psychedelic rock, incorporating elements of pop rock and garage rock influences.[4] The track runs for approximately 2:40 in duration.[4] The song follows a verse-chorus structure, beginning with a prominent electric guitar intro riff that sets an energetic tone.[11] It features a driving rhythm section and maintains an upbeat tempo of 154 beats per minute, contributing to its dynamic feel.[12] Instrumentation centers on electric guitar leads played by Robbie van Leeuwen, organ riffs enhancing the psychedelic atmosphere, bass lines from Klaas van der Wal that closely support the main riff, and simple drum patterns by Cor van der Beek emphasizing snare hits to propel the rhythm, while Mariska Veres delivers powerful lead vocals.[13] The piece is composed in B major, utilizing distorted guitars and reverb effects to enhance its psychedelic character.[14]Lyrics
The lyrics of "Send Me a Postcard," written entirely by Robbie van Leeuwen, center on themes of longing and isolation, as the narrator pleads for reassurance amid emotional separation.[15] Key lines such as "Before loneliness will break my heart / Send me a postcard, darling" underscore a desperate yearning for contact, using the postcard as a simple symbol of connection in the face of solitude.[16] The full lyrics read: [Verse 1]Before loneliness will break my heart
Send me a postcard, darling
How can I make you understand?
I wanna be your woman
Here! Here! I'm waiting for a little sign
Waiting 'til the end of time [Chorus]
Send me a postcard, darling
Send me a postcard now
Send me a postcard, darling
Send me a postcard now [Verse 2]
Where are you? Are you somewhere?
Someone else is holding you?
I can't go on like this anymore
I need your love so bad [Chorus]
Send me a postcard, darling
Send me a postcard now
Send me a postcard, darling
Send me a postcard now[16] The narrative unfolds as a direct plea from a woman asserting her desire for partnership, evident in the emphatic declaration "I wanna be your woman / Here! Here!," which conveys a bold claim to connection within the relationship.[16] Van Leeuwen's poetic style employs simple, direct language to evoke raw emotion, with a repetitive chorus that enhances catchiness and reinforces the central motif of anticipation.[15] The lyrics tie into broader cultural motifs of travel and separation prevalent in 1960s pop-rock, where postcards served as tangible links across distances in an era of increasing mobility.[16] Mariska Veres' vocal delivery amplifies the emotional urgency of these themes.[15]