The letter edged in black
I was standing by the window yesterday morning Without a thought of worry or of care When I saw the postman coming up the pathway With such a happy look and jolly air Oh, he rang the bell and whistled while he waited And then he said, Good morning to you, Jack But he little knew the sorrow that he brought me When he handed me a letter edged in black With trembling hand I took the letter from him I broke the seal and this is what it said Come home, my boy, your dear old father wants you Come home, my boy, your dear old mother's dead The last words that your mother ever uttered Tell my boy I want him to come back My eyes were blurred, my poor old heart is breaking As I'm writing you this letter edged in black I bow my head in sorrow and in silence The sunshine of my life it all has fled Since the postman brought that letter yesterday morning Saying come home, my boy, your poor old mother's dead Those angry words I wish I'd never spoken You know I never meant them, don't you, Jack May the angels bear me witness, I am asking Your forgiveness in this letter edged in black I could hear the postman whistling yesterday morning Coming down the pathway with his pack But he little know the sorrow that he brought me When he handed me that letter edged in black