When I Leave this World Behind

Bob Nolan
Original copyright: February 1, 1947

Refrain:
I hear them callin’ Where ya goin’? Straight to heaven.
How ya gonna get there? Ride the chariot
Where ya goin’ when you leave this world behind?
I’m goin’ home when I leave this world behind.

I’ll see old Gabriel a-standin’ with his trumpet in his hand.
He heaves a mighty blow.
Good Lord, it sounds like thunder and it isn’t any wonder
That they couldn’t stand his racket here below.

I see the angels a-standin’ there around the pearly gates.
What a hallelujah welcome that will be
Great day, come on and get me, take your time but please do let me
Do my shoutin’ when I enter Galilee.

And there’ll be old Father Moses with his record book in hand,
He’ll be checkin’ every good and evil deed.
He’ll hand you all a lickin’ for every stolen chicken
And a one-way ticket down full speed.

Oh, Mr. Moses, please forget to read on page a hundred three
I didn’t mean to do it, don’t you know.
Oh Lord, if you report me then the devil’s gonna court me
And the climate’s most unusual there below.

Oh, all you sinners, you’d better try and keep your record clean
Till the day they call that heavenly roll
‘Cause there’ll be old man Satan with his hot pitchfork a-waitin’
And an extra one for you to shovel coal.

When Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers were starting out on radio, comic pseudo-spirituals were popular and Bob tried his hand on them, too. This one and "When the Golden Train Comes Down" were popular for a time.

"When I Leave This World Behind" was recorded by Decca on March 13, 1935 and again in 1940 for the Orthacoustic "Symphonies of the Sage" radio transcriptions. Bob didn't get around to registering it for copyright until February 1, 1947. Because there were performance changes in the lyrics, the above lyrics are copied from the sheet music, not a recording.

American Music Inc. published the sheet music in 1947.

When I Leave This World Behind (American Music Inc.)

SONS OF THE PIONEERS TRANSCRIPTION RECORDINGS

Orthacoustic Symphonies of the Sage, transcription (064094)

Teleways Radio Productions transcriptions, Nos. 173, 212, and 254 (c. 1947-48)

Lucky U Ranch radio show (courtesy of Larry Hopper)
- Transcriptions disc TR-176/177 (January 4, 1952)