In the mid-1970s, at the height of his career, Engelbert Humperdinck kept a quiet corner of his life hidden from the public. In an old wooden drawer at his home, nestled among faded photographs and a few stage keepsakes, lay a cream-colored envelope. The handwriting was unmistakably his — yet there was no stamp, no postmark.
Inside was a letter that had never been sent. Engelbert once mentioned it briefly to a close friend, but never revealed the name of its intended recipient. The words on the page weren’t song lyrics, but plain, heartfelt sentences — apologies, gratitude, and unfinished thoughts, as if written late at night in a moment of vulnerability.
From what little is known, the letter was written during a time when he stood at a crossroads: to continue pursuing his glittering career or to turn back and mend a personal relationship that was slipping away. Within the lines, one could sense the inner conflict of a man who gave everything to his audience, yet sometimes struggled to give enough to those he loved.
Some believe it was meant for a youthful love who had left before his fame. Others think it was a message for an old friend with whom he had lost touch. Whatever the truth, Engelbert chose to keep it private. He once said, “Not every secret needs to be answered. Some things are most beautiful when left untouched.”
The letter has never been shown to the public, kept instead as part of his private life, surrounded by backstage snapshots and thank-you cards from fans. Its mystery only deepens the intrigue, leaving space for the imagination of his admirers for decades.
🎵 Suggested listening: “There Goes My Everything” – to hear the fragility and gentle sorrow in Engelbert’s voice.
Lyrics:
I hear footsteps slowly walking,As they gently walk across a lonely floor,And a voice is softly saying,Darling, this will be good-bye for ever more.There goes my reason for living,There goes the one of my dreams,There goes my only possession,There goes my everything.As my memory turns back the pages,I can see the happy years we had before,Now the love that kept this old heart beating,Has been shattered by the closing of the door.