The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Dear John Letter" by the artist "Whitney Houston"

Whitney Houston's song "Dear John Letter" portrays the emotional state of a woman who has decided to end a relationship and express her feelings in a farewell letter.

The image of the letter serves as a metaphor for the heroine's inability to have a direct and open conversation. She admits that it's easier for her to pour her thoughts onto paper than to say them out loud.

"The faces on the mantlepiece" symbolize the stages of their relationship that the heroine revisits in her memory while sitting alone. The photographs likely captured different moments and emotions, reminding her of how their feelings have changed.

The phrase "With the mailman as a go-between" emphasizes the distance and alienation between the lovers. The heroine sees no possibility for dialogue, so the letter becomes the only way to convey her thoughts.

She confesses that her "heart wasn't in it," indicating her faded feelings and desire to break up.

The recurring phrase "I'm writing you a Dear John letter" emphasizes the heroine's determination to end the relationship, despite her internal struggle. She admits that she "tried to stay" but realizes that "it's not getting better."

The heroine wavers between the desire to leave and the fear of the unknown. "My hand is getting cold" can symbolize both the physical sensation of coldness from loneliness and emotional numbness.

The conflicting emotions ("sometimes I think… sometimes I…") convey the heroine's inner turmoil, her uncertainty and the pain of having to make a decision.