I was standing by my window yesterday morning   Without a thought of worry or of care   When I saw a postman coming up the pathway   With such a happy face and jolly air      He rang the bell and he whistled as he waited   And then he 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      With trembling hands I took that 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 your mother ever uttered   Were tell my boy I want him to come back   My eyes are blurred my poor old heart is breaking   While I'm writing you this letter edged in black      I bowed my head in sorrow and in silence   The sunshine of my life it all had fled   Since the postman brought that letter yesterday morning   Come home my boy your dear old mother's dead      Those angry words I wish I'd never spoken   You know I did not mean them don't you Jack   May the angels bear this message I am sending   Your forgiveness in this letter edged in black