I was standin' by my window yesterday morning Without a thought of worry or of care When I saw the postman comin' up the pathway With such a happy face and jolly air. He rang the bell and whistled as he waited Then he said; Good morning to you, Jack But he little knew the sorrow he had brought me When he handed me a letter edged in black. With trembling hand I took this 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. I bowed my head in sorrow and in sadness The sunshine of my life, it all had fled When the post man brought that letter yesterday morning Saying come home my boy, your dear old mother's dead. The last words your mother ever uttered Tell my boy I want him to come back My eyes are blurred, my poor old heart is breaking So, I'm writing you this letter edged in black. Forget those angry words that we had spoken You know I didn't mean them, don't you, Jack May the angels bear as witness, I am asking Your forgiveness in this letter edged in black.