[Intro: Paul Williams, The Temptations, Melvin Franklin]
Tear-stained letter
A tear-stained letter now
A tear-stained letter
A tear-stained letter
Oh, oh, oh (A tear-stained letter)
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

[Verse 1: Paul Williams & Melvin Franklin]
That's what I received from you
It made me realize you still
You still love me, too
(Tear-stained letter)
Darling, darling, darling, darling
(Tear-stained letter)
It really took me by surprise
To know after all, all of these years
I brought tears into your eyes

[Bridge: Paul Williams]
I've scribed so many letters now
Wanting to say the same things to you
But I had to tear them up
Because I started crying, too

[Verse 2: Paul Williams, The Temptations, Melvin Franklin]
Why did you have to send me
(Tear-stained letter)
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Whoa, oh, ooh
And now you've got me, got me crying, too
A tear-stained letter gonna make it a little better now
[Outro: Paul Williams & The Temptations]
Tears, tears, tears, tears, tears, tears, hey, hey, tears
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
Tear-stained letter now
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
A tear-stained letter
Oh, you don't have to cry no more
Tears, tears, tears, tears, tears, said tears
Tear-stained letter, a tear-stained letter
That's what did it now, I can't quit it now
Tears, tears, tears, tears, tears, a tear-stained letter