Hello Central, Give Me Heaven
# Hello Central, Give Me Heaven

Hello Central, Give Me Heaven is a popular Tin Pan Alley song first published in 1901, with lyrics and music by Charles K. Harris, and was among Harris's most popular songs. It was first recorded by Byron G. Harlan and released in July 1901.

The song relates a young girl wishing to use the telephone ("Hello Central" refers to the operator) to call her dead mother. It was inspired by a newspaper story relating the attempt of the seven-year-old daughter of a widower to make such a call. Postcards were printed after the song's publication with the "kind permission" of Harris showing young girls using the telephone to call their dead mothers.

The song's popularity led to several "telephone songs" in the following years, and a one-reel film of the same title was released in 1913.

It has been estimated that the sheet music sold approximately one million copies.

The Carter Family also recorded a version of the song.

## 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 Kiss me through the telephone

## Film

A one-reel film of the same title was released in 1913. Prints and/or fragments were found in the Dawson Film Find in 1978.

