The narrator later views her body on the cooling board at the morgue, attends her funeral and returns to his home in a state of depression.

House often altered the tempo and lyrics for different performances of "Death Letter", occasionally playing the song more than once during the same concert.

"Death Letter" has been recorded by several popular musicians, including the Grateful Dead, John Mellencamp, Chris Thomas King, David Johansen,[2] Tony McPhee, Johnny Winter, Blues Band, the Derek Trucks Band,[2] the White Stripes,[2] the Tallest Man on Earth and the Growl.

Diamanda Galás,[2] Cassandra Wilson,[2] James Blood Ulmer,[2] Gov't Mule, Geoff Muldaur and Charlie Pickett have also recorded the piece.

The Cassandra Wilson cover, first included on her 1995 album New Moon Daughter, was selected as the theme song for the third season of the HBO anthology series True Detective airing in early 2019.