two little children
When I was a child my mother use to sing a song to me with these lyrics. I am not sure of what order they fall in but it went like this.
Two little children a girl and a boy
Stood by an old church door
The little girls feet were as brown as the curls
That hung upon the dress that she wore.
The little boy coat was all tattered and torn,
And tears hung in his blue eyes,
Why Don't you go home to your mother I said,
and this was the maiden's reply
Mothers in Heaven angels took her away she is gone to that land
fair and bright; she said she would call for her darlings some day perhaps she will call them tonight etc....
Could someone could help me find the name of this song or the music that goes with it
Thanks Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
Jean Ritchie has recorded it under the title "The Orphan's Lament". The song seems to be more well known by the name of "The Two Orphans" or "Two Little Children" though. Dolly Parton has recorded a version of it.
At http://www.smsu.edu/folksong/maxhunter/songtitlept.html#anchor5 you can have a listen in Real Audio, and I think they even have sheet music to some songs.
regards
Peter
My mom had this song on an old 78 record. I used to wind up this old record player and listen to it. It was made famous by "Mac and Bob." The flipside to this song was "You'll Never Miss Your Mother 'til She's Gone." You want a good cry - listen to these two songs back to back! You can get songs by Mac and Bob from a place called Venerable Music, althought the Mac and Bob cd I got had You'll Never Miss Your Mother . . . it didn't have The Two Orphans - snif, snif.
The rest of The Two Orphans goes . . . .
We can't earn our bread we're too little, she said
Jim's five and I'm only seven
We can't earn our living since papa is dead
And our darling mama's in heaven
Papa got drownded on the sea long ago
We waited all night by the shore
For he was a lifesaving captian you know
And he never came back anymore
Chorus
The sexton came early to ring the church bell
And found them beneath the snow white
The angels made room for two orphans to dwell
In heaven with mama that night.
Chorus
Man, does that bring back memories! I haven't heard that since I was a kid - and I'm 45! That song is branded on my brain and heart. Another song my mom sang to me was Back To Donegal. At the time, I never knew what a portacork was! (Port of Cork, Ireland) She used to rock me in this rocking chair until I was 7! I loved it and ate it up. Those of us who got sang to by our mothers know how wonderful it was.
Congratulations Cheryl for being fortunate enough both to have a mom that sang to you, and for enjoying this wonderful, yet almost unknown song. Give your mom a kiss for me!!!!! You'll never miss her 'til she's gone!
If you have any questions about these songs, contact me through my website fisherpiano.com.
Rob
Wow! I never thought I'd find this song written down anywhere! I'm 48 and my grandmother used to sing this song - she was born in 1901 - she taught herself piano, guitar, and then accordion
OMG! Iim 18 going on 19 and i havent stoppd humming that song since i was a child, the other nyt i was thinking ive managed to find everyting else on google so might aswel try and typd in the words i knew !!! im so glad i found it 😀 my sister used to sing it to me n ma other sister when we were little. i love it. takes me back!!! xxxxxxxxxxx
I remember this song sung to me by my father when I was a child. I found it on a CD by Dolly Parton called Makin Believe. The lyrics that others have posted in this forum are as my father used to sing to me also. This too takes me back a long time, and I am 45 going on 46.