TWO LITTLE CHILDREN aka TWO LITTLE ORPHANS
(Traditional - Irish)

Recorded by: Roy Acuff; Dolly Parton; Oma Kilgore; 
Hylo Brown & The Timberliners; Bridie Gallagher; 
Norman & Nancy Blake; Philomena Quinn.


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's 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

Mama's in Heaven, Angels took her away 
She is gone to that land fair and bright
She said she would come for her darlings some day 
Perhaps she will come tonight 

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 drowned on the sea long ago
We waited all night by the shore
For he was a lifesaving captain you know
And he never came back anymore

Perhaps, there's no room up in Heaven, she said
For two little darlings to keep
She then placed her hand under Jims little head
She kissed him, and both fell asleep

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


******


Lyric Variation:


Two little children, a boy an' a girl
Sat by the ol' church door
The little girls feet were as brown as the curl
That fell on the dress that she wore
The boys coat was faded and hatless his head
A tear shown in each little eye
Why don't you run home to your Mamma, I said
An' this was the maidens reply 

Mamma's in Heaven, they took her away
Left Jim an' I all alone
We came here to stay till the close of the day
For we have no Mamma, no home
We cain't earn our bread, we're too little, she said
Jim five an' I only seven
There's no one to love us since Papa is gone
An' our darling Mamma is in heaven 

Papa was lost out on the sea, long ago
We waited all night, on the shore
For he was a life saving captain, you know
But 'e never came back anymore
Then, Mamma got sick, angels took her away
They said, to a home fair and bright
She said, she would come for her darlings sometime
Perhaps she is coming tonight 

Perhaps there's no room up in Heaven, she said
For two little darlings to keep
She then placed her hand under Jims little head
She kissed him, and both fell asleep
The sexton came early to ring the church bell
He found them under the snow white
The angels made room for two orphans, to dwell
In Heaven, with Mother that night 



(Contributed by Mel - June 2004)