Letter Etched in Black
My grandfather sang this song it was very sad and he was very dramatic when he sang it ,,,I would like to find some music for it.
starts like a son who has go off to war or something and gets a lettter from the mailman.
I can see the mailman coming every morningthen ther are several lines and the last
bringing me a letter etched in black
another lin I remember:
come home my son your dear ol' mother needs you....come home my son your dear ol' mothers dead.
been looking all over for this song...the only good thing is it is on a recording on tape done in the 60's of himself singing.
I remember this song from the 1950's and as I recall it was sung by Hank Loughlan.Can only recall one verse & chorous.
I was waiting when the postman came this morning.
I saw him take a letter from his bag
With a smile he gave to me a friendly greeting
And handed me a letter edged in black.
With thrembling hands I took that letter from him
I opened it and this is what it said
Come home my boy your dear ol' father needs you
Come home my boy your dear ol' mother's dead.
I think the song is called "The Letter Edged in Black" by Hattie Nevada.
Here's a link to words and music:
http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiLETTRBLK;ttLETTRBLK.html
Here's the textual contents from the above mentioned link:
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 15388Bear Family Records BFX-15119
Thank you to all who replied to the Letter edged in black...This is the song. MY son was elated to get the music and to hear the differant renditions.
d guerin w
Just a quick thank you to all that replied. I have been able to find the music and many differant versions of this song. Again I thank you all.
Guerin
yes i remember my father singing this song and was happy to get the words i already knew the melody. but please help me find another song my dad sang it goes like this...IN MY ARMS IN MY ARMS AM I EVER GONNA GET A GIRL IN MY ARMS. IN MY ARMS IN MY ARMS AINT I EVER GONNA GET A BUNDLE OF CHARMS, COMES THE DAWN I'LL BE GONE I JUST GOTTA HAVE A HONEY HOLDING ME TIGHT, YOU CAN KEEP YOUR KNITING AND YOUR PEARLING IF I'M GONNA GO TO BURNING, GIVE ME A GIRL IN MY ARMS TONIGHT. IF ANYONE CAN HELP WITH THIS I'D BE GRATEFUL.
Hello,
Here's something I found. I hope it helps.
Peter
IN MY ARMS
(Ted Grouya / Frank Loesser)
Recorded by: Eddie Cantor; Dick Haymes; Ina Ray Hutton.
His cousin had sent him a sweater
And his sister wrote a letter
But he wanted something much better
This boy who was sailing away
For his buddies were with their sweethearts
All around him with their sweethearts
Now he'd never had any sweethearts
And over and over he'd say
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna have a girl in my arms
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna get a bundle of charms
Comes the dawn, I'll be gone
I just gotta have a honey holdin' me tight
You can keep your knittin' and purlin'
If I'm gonna go to Berlin
Gimme a girl in my arms tonight
His grandma had sent him some candy
And as he chewed on the candy
He said my morale is just dandy
And still there's a tear in my eye
For his buddies were there with their sweethearts
Kissing bye-bye with their sweethearts
Now he'd never had any sweethearts
And over and over he'd cry
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna have a girl in my arms
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna get a bundle of charms
Comes the dawn, I'll be gone
And I thank you for the many letters you'll write
As for something nice and cute and female
I'll never get it in the V-mail
Gimme a girl in my arms tonight
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna have a girl in my arms
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna get a bundle of charms
Comes the dawn, I'll be gone
I'll be headin' for the very thick of the fight
You can wine and dine and cigarette me
But if you really wanna get me
Gimme a girl in my arms tonight
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna have a girl in my arms
In my arms, in my arms
Ain't I never gonna get a bundle of charms
Comes the dawn, I'll be gone
Now does anyone wanna please treat me right
You can keep your shavin' cream and lotion
If I'm a-gonna cross the ocean
Give me a girl in my arms tonight