The Letter Edged in Black

I was standing by my window yesterday morning
Without a thought of worry or of care
When I saw the postman coming up the pathway
With such a smiling face and jolly air

He rang the doorbell and whistled as he waited
He smiled and said, "Good morning to you, Jack"
But he little knew the sorrow that he brought me
As he handed me a letter edged in black

Then 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 father needs you
Come home, my boy, your dear old mother's dead"

"Those words, the last your mother ever uttered
Were, '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"

Then I bowed my head in silence and in sorrow
The sunshine in my life, it all had fled
Since the postman brought that letter yesterday morning
Saying, "Come home, my boy, your dear old mother's dead"

"Those harsh words, I'm sorry they were spoken
You know I didn't mean them, don't you, Jack?
The angels bear me witness, I am asking
Your forgiveness in this letter edged in black"