Lyr Add: Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 04:54 PM

I'm amazed that this song hadn't been posted before. It certainly is one of my mother's favorite old songs.

Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: HEAVEN WILL PROTECT THE WORKING GIRL
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:12 PM

This has been mentioned a few times at Mudcat, but never posted.

Not to be confused with HEAVEN WILL PROTECT AN HONEST GIRL, which came later (1933).

From the sheet music at The New York Public Library:

^^
HEAVEN WILL PROTECT THE WORKING GIRL (A Burlesque Ballad)
Words, Edgar Smith. Music, A. Baldwin Sloane.
Publisher: Charles K. Harris, 1909.
Sung by Marie Dressler in "Tillie's Nightmare."

1. A village maid was leaving home. With tears her eyes were wet.
Her mother dear was standing near the spot.
She says to her, "Neuralgia dear, I hope you won't forget
That I'm the only mother you have got.
The city is a wicked place, as anyone can see,
And cruel dangers 'round your path may hurl;
So ev'ry week you'd better send your wages back to me,
For Heaven will protect a working girl.

CHORUS 1: "You are going far away, but remember what I say
When you are in the city's giddy whirl.
From temptations, crimes, and follies,
Villains, taxicabs and trolleys,
Oh! Heaven will protect a working girl."

2. Her dear old mother's words proved true, for soon the poor girl met
A man who on her ruin was intent.
He treated her respectful as those villains always do,
And she supposed he was a perfect gent.
But she found diff'rent when one night she went with him to dine
Into a table d'hôte so blithe and gay,
And he says to her, "After this we'll have a demitasse."
Then, to him these brave words the girl did say:

CHORUS 2: "Stand back, villain! Go your way! Here I will no longer stay,
Although you were a marquis or an earl.
You may tempt the upper classes
With your villainous demitasses,
But Heaven will protect a working girl."