Digital Tradition Mirror

The Letter Edged in Black

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

The Letter Edged in Black

I was standing by the window yesterday morning,
Without a thought of worry or of care,
When I saw the postman coming up the pathway,
With such a happy look and jolly air.

cho: As I heard the postman whistling yester morning,
     Coming down the pathway with his pack,
     Oh he little knew the sorrow that he brought me
     When he handed me that letter edged in black.

Oh, he rang the bell and whistled while he waited,
And then he said "Good morning to you, Jack."
But he little knew the sorrow that he brought me
When he handed me that letter edged in black.

With trembling hand I took the 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 that your mother ever uttered ---
'Tell my boy I want him to come back,'
My eyes are blurred, my poor old heart is breaking,
For I'm writing you this letter edged in black."

I bow my head in sorrow and in silence,
The sunshine of my life it all has fled,
Since the postman brought that letter yester morning
Saying,"Come home, my boy, your dear old mother's dead!:"

"Those angry words, I wish I'd never spoken,
You know I never meant them, don't you, Jack?
May the angels bear me witness, I am asking
Your forgiveness in this letter edged in black."



Note.     The Letter Edged In Black, written by Hattie Nevada, but
     the authorship being forgotten, moved into the folk tradition.
     It was recorded by Vernon Dalhart (as Al Craver) for Columbia
     in November 1925; but perhaps the most popular country version
     of the song was recorded by Kentucky balladeer Bradley Kincaid,
     who recorded it for Bluebird on February 14, 1934.GG
Recorded by Marty Robbins Just Me And My Guitar
1983 CBS Records LSP 15388\Bear Family Records BFX-15119
see also A Song for Folk-Legacy (or a Record Edged in Black)
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!