Published 1901 Language English | Writer(s) Charles K. Harris | |
Hello Central, Give Me Heaven was a popular Tin Pan Alley song first published in 1901, with lyrics and music by Charles K. Harris, and was among Harris' 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 a number of "telephone songs" in 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.