Whitney Houston

Released: December 10, 2002

Songwriter: Whitney Houston Patrice Stewart Dwight Reynolds Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs

Producer: Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs

[Verse 1]
I'm sitting here
In my own head thinking
How you could be staring in
Got my number two
And I'm writing you
Contemplating on the paper what I should do
On the fireplace, with the mail man
Should I tell you or should I hold it in
If my heart wasn't in it
Baby you could just forget it
I'd be gone in a New York minute

[Pre-Chorus]
You never give me attention
I know you never had bad intentions for us
So I'm writing you
But I always fail to mention
Cause you know I really don't like to fuss
So I'm gonna hold it in

[Chorus]
I'm writing you Dear John
I tried to stay but it never got better
I couldn't tell you face to face but I
I had to let you know
Sometimes I want to hit the door
I'm writing you Dear John

[Verse 2]
Sometimes I think that I've had enough
My hands freeze and I can't write fast enough
I want to get away but I can't obey when my heart speaks
You know I'm listening
Some days I'm really touchy and
Some days I'm willing to forget and
Some days I'm still in love with you
Some days I'm sad and blue

[Pre-Chorus 2]
When I don't check myself
I get frustrated with you
And I don't know what I'm gonna do
I know that it's not just you
It's some of my negligence too
And I can't go through with mailing this to you

[Chorus]
Dear John letter
I tried to stay but it never got better
I couldn't tell you face to face but I
I had to let you know
Sometimes I want to hit the door
I'm writing you a Dear John letter
Dear John letter
I tried to stay but it never got better
I couldn't tell you face to face but I
I had to let you know
Sometimes I want to hit the door

[Pre-Chorus 2]
When I don't check myself
I get frustrated with you
And I don't know what I'm gonna do
I know that it's not just you
It's some of my negligence too
And I can't go through with mailing this to you

[Chorus]
Dear John letter
I tried to stay but it never got better
I couldn't tell you face to face but I
I had to let you know
Sometimes I want to hit the door
I'm writing you a Dear John letter
I tried to stay but it never got better
I couldn't tell you face to face but I
I had to let you know
Sometimes I want to hit the door
I'm writing you a Dear John

[Outro]
I'm writing this letter
Because it makes me feel better
I'm writing this letter
Because it makes me feel better
I'm writing this letter
Because it makes me feel better
I'm writing this letter
Because it, oooh
I'm writing this letter, baby
I can't go it, oh no no no
I can't can't can't
I can't stay
Mmmm
I'm writing you this letter
I'm writing you Dear John
I'm writing a Dear John letter
I'm writing a Dear John letter
I'm writing a Dear John letter
I'm writing a Dear John letter
I'm writing a Dear John letter

Known across the pop culture spectrum as the “Queen of Pop” and “The Voice” for her mezzo-soprano octave, Whitney Elizabeth Houston left an indelible impression upon pop culture. She is one of the most successful artists of all time, with more than 200 million albums sold worldwide.

Born August 9, 1963, Houston grew up singing as part of the gospel choir at her local church. She was surrounded by powerful voices in her own family (mother Cissy Houston, cousin Dionne Warwick, godmother Darlene Love, honorary aunt Aretha Franklin). After working as a model and commercial actress in the early 1980s, Whitney was discovered during a New York City nightclub performance, which led to her signing a contract with Clive Davis at Arista Records. Whitney’s first song was a duet in 1984 with Teddy Pendergrass on “Hold Me.”

She released her self-titled début album the following year, which catapulted her into superstardom as the album topped the Billboard 200 for 14 non-consecutive weeks before becoming the top-selling album of 1986, eventually achieving diamond status in the US and selling over 22 million copies worldwide. The singles “Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved platinum status. The music video for “How Will I Know” received heavy rotation on MTV, which was uncommon for Black women at the time. She took home the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy Award for “Saving” in 1986; her performance at the Grammys of “Saving” later won her an Emmy award. She also won seven American Music Awards between 1986 and 1987.

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