| G | G | 

[Verse 1]
      G                               D
I was standing by my window yesterday mornin'
    D                           G        
Without a thought of worry or regret
       G                               C
When I saw the postman comin' down the pathway
       D                              G    
He was bringin' me a letter, edged in black

[Verse 2]
        G                                   D                                   
Well he rang the bell and whistled while he waited
D                                G
Then he said good mornin' to you Jack
       G                              C
But he never knew the sorrow, that he brought me
        D                               G         
When he handed me, that letter edged in black

[Verse 3]
       G                                  D
With a tremblin' hand, I took the letter, from him
  D                                  G
I broke the seal and this is what it said
     G                                  C 
Come home my boy, your dear old father, wants you
     D                                   G     
Come home my boy, your dear old mother's dead

[Verse 4]
    G                                 D
The last words, that your mother ever uttered
D                           G
Was tell my boy, I want him to come back
G                                     C
My eyes are dim, my poor ol' heart is breakin'
D                                      G       
And I'm writin' you, this letter edged in black

[Verse 5]
  G                              D
I bowed my head in sorrow and in silence                                     
    D                               G
The sunshine of my life, it all has fled
          G                                      C
Since the postman brought that letter, yesterday mornin'
            D                                   G
Sayin' come home my boy, your poor old mother's dead

[Verse 6]
G                                   D
Those angry words, I wish I'd never spoken
    D                              G
You know I never meant them, don't you Jack
        G                            C
May the angels bear me witness, I am asking
        D                        D7       G      G
Your forgiveness in this letter, edged in black