Love Letters In The Sand

Album: Pat's Great Hits (1957)
Charted: 2 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Pat Boone heartbroken over an unfaithful girlfriend as he remembers how they used to write each other love letters in the sand. That same year, he landed his first movie role in the comedy Bernardine, which featured the lovelorn tune along with the title hit.

    Much to Boone's surprise, the single was a huge hit, peaking at #1 on the pop chart and becoming the #2 song of 1957. It also peaked at #12 on the R&B chart. "'Love Letters In the Sand' was the B-side of 'Bernardine' just because we had to put something on the other side," he explained in a 2016 interview. "We had no idea it would become the biggest-selling record of my career and one of the biggest singles of all time! How little we know!"
  • Ted Black and His Orchestra first hit the charts with this in 1931. It was written by J. Fred Coots, who wrote the melody for "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," and lyricists Nick Kenny and Charles Kenny. The Kenny brothers also penned the Gene Autry hit "There's A Gold Mine In The Sky."
  • Boone did his own whistling during the instrumental break.
  • Popular crooner Gene Austin and jazz/blues singer Lee Morse also recorded versions in 1931, but most covers came after Boone's success. Andy Williams, Bob Eberly, Bill Haley and His Comets, and Leroy Van Dyke all recorded it through the '60s. English pop singer Vince Hill notched a #23 UK hit with his cover in 1967.
  • On a 1957 episode of The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, actress Laraine Day sang this with the host and the show's Top Twenty singers.
  • Sixpence None the Richer included this on their 1996 EP, Tickets For A Prayer Wheel.
  • This was used in the pilot episode of the Showtime drama Masters of Sex in 2013.

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1957 {August 16th} "Love Letters In The Sand"* by Pat Boone peaked at #2 for seven non-consecutive weeks on the United Kingdom's National Music Express chart...
    Between 1955 and 1962 the Jacksonville, Florida native had twenty-seven records on the UK Singles chart, twelve made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "I'll Be Home", for five weeks in June of 1956...
    Patrick Charles Eugene Boone celebrated his 87th birthday one month ago on June 1st, 2021...
    * Besides the above "Love Letters In The Sand", he had three other records peak at #2 on the UK Singles chart, "Don't Forbid Me" for five weeks in March of 1957, "A Wonderful Time Up There" for one week in May of 1958, and "Speedy Gonzales" for four weeks in August of 1962...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the UK's Top 10 on August 16th, 1957:
    At #1. "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley
    #2. the above "Love Letters In The Sand"
    #3. "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley
    #4. "Gamblin' Man"/"Putting On The Style" by Lonnie Donegan
    #5. "Island In The Sun" by Harry Belafonte
    #6. "Little Darlin'" by The Diamonds
    #7. "We Will Make Love" by Russ Hamilton
    #8. "Bye Bye Love" by The Everly Brothers
    #8. "Last Train To San Fernando" by Johnny Duncan & The Blue Grass Boys {a tied at #8 with the Everly Brothers}
    #10. "Around The World" by Bing Crosby
  • Frederic from VirginiaThe song was introduced by Dolly Dawn in 1931 and became the theme song for George Hall and his orchestra.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.