Hank Thompson — 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"