An early telephone song charged with emotion, 1901.
words and music by Charles K. Harris
arranged by Joseph Clauder
‘Central’ was a name for the ‘Operator.’ This is a tear-jerker where a child misses her deceased mother. She tries to call her mother on the telephone. After all, phone voices must come from heaven! Sure enough, she gets the answer she wants. By the author of After the Ball (1892).
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
- Papa I’m so sad and lonely
Sobbed a tearful little child
Since dear mama’s gone to heaven
Papa darling you’ve not smiled
I will speak to her and tell her
That we want her to come home
Just you listen and I’ll call her
Through the telephone
Chorus
Hello Central, give me heaven, for my mama’s there
You can find her with the angels on the golden stair
She’ll be glad it’s me who’s speaking
Call her, won’t you please
For I want to surely tell her
We’re so lonely here
- When the girl received this message
Coming o’er the telephone
How her heart thrilled in that moment
And the wires seemed to moan
I will answer just to please her
“Yes, dear heart, I’ll soon come home”
Kiss me, mama, kiss your darling
Through the telephone
Sung here by Fred Feild: