Lyrics:

I was standin' by my window yesterday morning
Without a thought of sorrow or of care
When I saw the postman comin' up the pathway
With such a smiling 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 that he brought me
When he handed me a letter edged in black
With trembling hands I took the letter from him
I opened it and this is what it said
'Come home my boy, your dear old daddy wants you
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
As I'm writing you this letter edged in black'
Those angry words I wish I'd never spoken
You know I didn't mean them, don't you, Jack
May the angels bear me witness, I am asking
Your forgiveness in this letter edged in black'