Lyr Req/Add: Will the Angels Let Me Play?

Subject: Lyrics: Will the angels let me play?
From:
Date: 13 Dec 97 - 05:47 PM

There is a song I vaguely remember, and I can't find it in the database. It is about a little boy who had some sort of physical handicap (I think he couldn't walk?) and would watch the other children playing outside the window. I think one line might have been something along the lines of "When I die and go to heaven, will the angels let me play?"

If anyone knows the name or lyrics to the song and could help me identify it, I would appreciate the help.

Thanks- paschal

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Will the angels let me play?
From:
Date: 13 Dec 97 - 09:39 PM

The title if I remember correctly is in fact "When I Go to Heaven Mama, Will the Angels Let Me Play". Remember hearing it sung during the period 1946-47 on country music radio. I believe Eddy Arnold had a recording of it that received a lot of air play at that time. Will look through my stuff and see if I can come up with a lyric.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Will the angels let me play?
From:
Date: 15 Dec 97 - 08:38 PM

Thanks. If anyone know of a recording of this that is currently available, let me know!

Subject: Lyr Add: WILL THE ANGELS LET ME PLAY?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Oct 05 - 08:11 PM

Here are the original lyrics, from Indiana University Sheet Music Collections:

WILL THE ANGELS LET ME PLAY?
Words, W L Werden; Music, Fred E Gladdish; 1905.

1. In a yard where children were playing games one day,
A little tot so lonely was watching wistfully.
It seemed so hard she could not play as other children do.
They said that she would spoil the games, and was a baby, too.
Her tender heart is breaking, for they won't let her play,
And as she goes to Mama, she murmurs plaintively:

CHORUS: "Mama, when I go to heaven, will the angels let me play?
Just because I am so little, will they say I'm in the way?
Here the children never want me. I'm a bother, they all say.
When I go to heaven, mama, will the angels let me play?"

2. "I'm so tired, dear Mama," the little darling said,
"Please rock me just a little, and then put me to bed.
I wish that papa would come home before I go to sleep
Just tell him how I waited for his kiss upon my cheek."
One night when all was silent, the angels came that way,
And took the little darling whose sweet lips seemed to say: CHORUS

* * *
[However, it looks like the folk process got hold of it before George Morgan recorded it. Here's an excerpt of his version, which he recites over background music:]

...kids wouldn't let him play.
And as he hobbled to his mom on his crutches, with his eyes full of tears,
She heard her little crippled boy say:
"Gosh, Mommy, I'm so awfully tired." And then he bowed his little head.
"Won't you rock me just a little bit, Mom, before I have to go to bed?
And gee, how I wish that Daddy would come home...."

[Recorded by George Morgan on "Candy Kisses," Bear Family BCD 15851, 1996. Also by Elton Britt on "Beyond the Sunset," ABC 322, 1960.]

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Will the angels let me play?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Oct 05 - 08:56 PM

A version in the Wolf Folklore Collection, "The Little Crippled Girl," Little
Audio recording of Mrs. Alberta Felts singing this song.

Eddy Arnold and Rosemary Clooney also recorded this song.

Subject: Lyr Add: WILL THE ANGELS LET ME PLAY? (from Morgan
From: masato sakurai
Date: 07 Oct 05 - 09:11 PM

Here's George Morgan's version, from here.

WILL THE ANGELS LET ME PLAY
(Fred E. Gladdish / W.L. Werden)

In the yard where children
Were playing games one day
A little boy on crutches
Was watching swift fully
It seemed so hard he couldn't play
Like other children do
They said that he would spoil their games
And was a baby too

When I go to heaven momma
Will the angels let me play
Because I'm just a cripple
Will they say I'm in the way

Here the children never want me
I'm a bother they all say
When I go to heaven mommy
Will the angels let me play

Now this little fellows heart was breaking in two
Just because the rest of the kids
Wouldn't let him play

And as he hobbled to his mom on his crutches
With his eyes full of tears
She heard her little cripple boy say
Gosh mommy I'm so awfully tired

And then he bowed his little head
Won't you rock me just a little bit mom
Before I have to go to bed
And gee how I wish daddy would come home
Before I go to sleep
Will you tell him how I waited and waited
For so long mom
For his kiss on my little cheek

And then that night
When all was still and silent
A band of angels came that way
And they took this little fellow up to heaven
Where he'll never never have to say
Mom when I go up to heaven
Won't the angels let me play

Or maybe because I'm just a kid on crutches
They'll say I'm in the way
You know Mom here the rest kids never want me
I'm a bother they all say

So when I go up to heaven mom
Don't you think that maybe
Just maybe
The angels will let me play

When I go to heaven momma
Will the angels let me play

(Transcribed by Cookie - August 2005)

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Will the angels let me play?
From: Gene
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 01:24 AM

http://www.luma-electronic.cz/lp/a/Arnold/eddy.htm

Eddy Arnold recorded several songs with angel in the title,
but i do not find this one listed.

george morgan certainly did, [I have it]

can't say about the others...

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Will the angels let me play?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 05:30 AM

I don't think the angels will have much say where I'll be playing!

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Will the angels let me play?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 09:20 AM

There's a 2-minute clip sung by Carol Davis here.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Will the angels let me play?
From: MaineDog
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 09:35 AM

No such luck, Foolestroupe, one third of all the angels will be there, and they will be the ones who would complain!
MD

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Will the angels let me play?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 02:47 PM

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it would be about the spoons, bodhran, banjo or accordion.

Of course, in heaven we will get to play whatever we want.

My theology provides for a separate section in heaven for fiddles.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Will the Angels Let Me Play?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 02:13 PM

Elton Britt recorded this one on his "Beyond the Sunset" album.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Will the Angels Let Me Play?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Dec 13 - 11:02 PM

the song was about a little boy that was pearalised and the other kids would not let hem play with them ...... my dad phil wimett composed the song for the littel boy he did not write it just did the arganment for it

Subject: Lyr Add: WILL THE ANGELS LET ME PLAY? (from Britt)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Dec 13 - 10:48 PM

Note that, compared to the original sheet music, this version has the same number of lines, but the two 6-line verses have been rearranged as three 4-line verses.


WILL THE ANGELS LET ME PLAY?
As recorded by Elton Britt, 1948.

1. In a yard where children were playin' games one day,
A little lad on crutches was watching wistfully.
It seemed so hard he could not play as other children do.
They said that he would spoil the game, and was a baby, too.

CHORUS: "When I go to heaven, Mama, will the angels let me play?
Because I am a cripple, will they say I'm in the way?
Here the children never want me. I'm a bother, they all say.
When I go to heaven, Mama, will the angels let me play?"

2. His tender heart is breaking, for they won't let him play,
As he goes to his mama, she hears him softly say:
"I'm so tired, dear Mama," then bows his little head,
"Please rock me just a little, and then tuck me to bed.

3. I wish that daddy would come home before I go to sleep
Tell him how I waited for his kiss upon my cheek."
That night when all was silent, the angels came that way,
And took him up to heaven where he won't have to say: CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Will the Angels Let Me Play?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Dec 13 - 03:50 AM

YouTube
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6B_ScjVCIkI&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D6B_ScjVCIkI

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Will the Angels Let Me Play?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 09:40 AM

This song I remember very well. My mom sang it to me. Here are the words...

In a yard where children were playing games one day.
A little girl sat sadly, watching as they played.
She asked them if she could play too, but they said she'd spoil their fun.
The little girl went home to tell her troubles to...
(Chorus) mommy when I go to heaven, will the angels let me play?
Or will they say I'd spoil their fun, and am I baby too?
Mommy when I go to heaven, will the angels let me play?
Or will they say I'd spoil their fun and Am a baby too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Will the Angels Let Me Play?
From: GUEST,GreyGhost
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 01:09 AM

Here's how I remember it:

In a yard where little children
Were playing games one day
A little lad on crutches
Was watching wistfully
It seemed so hard he could not play
As the other children do
They said that he would spoil their games
And he was a baby, too.

(Chorus)
When I go to heaven mama
Will the angels let me play?
Because I am a cripple
Will they say I'm in the way?
Here the children never want me
I'm a bother they all say
When I go to heaven mama
Will the angels let me play?

I wish that daddy would come home
Before I go to sleep
Just tell him how I waited
For his kisses on my cheek
That night while all was silent
The angels came that way
And took him up to heaven
Where he won't have to say

Chorus

And when he got to heaven
The angels let him play
They gave him golden slippers
And he wasn't in the way
And when his mama got there
He had these words to say
When I got to heaven mama
The angels let me play

Chorus




I remember hearing this song as recorded by my aunt's family from Virginia back in the 70's. Now I'm singing it to my daughter as I rock her before bed. She's healthy, but just want to teach her about God's healing power when we go to heaven.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Will the Angels Let Me Play?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 16 Jul 15 - 12:33 AM

http://web.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/feltslittle1255.html

There's another.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Will the Angels Let Me Play?
From: GUEST,Nancy Abbott
Date: 01 Jul 17 - 06:23 PM

I know the words. Our moma sang it all the time to us