HEAVEN WILL PROTECT AN HONEST GIRL
(R.P. Weston / Bert Lee / Harris Weston)

Gracie Fields - 1933



On the day I left the village, my dear Mother whispered, Nell,
Take this piece of bread and of drippin' and your fare
And remember when in London, though you're just a servant girl,
You're a blonde, the sort that Gentlemen ensnare
With your youth and fatal beauty, when you get to Waterloo
There'll be crowds of Dukes and millionaires
All waiting there for you
But 'eaven will protect an 'onest girl
An an-gee-el will guard you, little Nell
When those rich men tempt you, Nellie
With their spark-elin Moselley
Say, "Nay, nay", and do be very care-fuel
And if some old bloated, blasé, roué swell
Says "I'll kiss you, we're alone in this hotel, hah-hah-hah"
Breath a prayer he shall not do it, and them biff with a cruet
Then 'eaven will protect an 'onest girl

When I got to wicked London in me little clogs and shawl
And me bit of bread and drippin' in me 'and
I went up to that big Lifeguard on 'is 'orse outside White'all
And I asked 'im to direct me to The Strand
But 'e didn't even answer, 'e just sat there with 'is sword
And an 'elmet that 'ad whiskers on, so I said, "Thank the Lord,
'eaven will protect an 'onest girl"
And I reached Piccadilly safe and well
There I saw a red light showin', but across I started goin'
When a Policeman pulled me back, I nearly fell
"You're a silly little mule", he starts to yell
"Don't you know what that red light means?", I says "Well,
Red's for danger, if you please, sir
But don't switch it on for me, sir
'Cause 'eaven will protect an 'onest girl"

Said 'eaven will protect an honest girl
Next day I pawned me shawl in Camberwell
Then me skirt and blouse I sold 'em
And went trampin' back to Oldham
When a fortnight passed, I rang at Mother's bell
"Eeh, but Mother, dear", I said, "It's little Nell
I've lost me soul, me uppers too, as well
And I've walked 'ome in me undies
But I'll tell me class on Sundays
That 'eaven will protect an 'onest girl"



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - May 2006)