I posted this in a thread with a misleading title, so I thought I'd post it here with a MIDI and ask Dani a question about the version she sings - a medley of gospel lyrics, all sung to this tune. Dani, what are the lyrics you use, and where did you get them?
-Joe Offer-

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Thread #2852   Message #13059
Posted By: Joe Offer
24-Sep-97 - 12:47 PM
Thread Name: LYRIC:oil in my vessel?
Subject: Lyr Add: KEEP YOUR LAMP TRIMMED AND BURNING

Dani, I was sure this was the song you wanted, so I typed it out. Now that I look at your post again, I think maybe it's not the right one, either. This one is in the Jerry Silverman Folk Song Encyclopedia, still available from Hal Leonard:

KEEP YOUR LAMP TRIMMED AND BURNING
traditional

Keep your lamp trimmed and a-burning,
Keep your lamp trimmed and burning
Keep your lamp trimmed and burning
For this old world it is almost gone.
Brother, don't you get a-worried
Brother, don't get worried
Brother, don't get a-worried
For this old world it is almost gone.

Sister, Don't stop prayin'…

Preacher, Don't stop preachin'…

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Click to play

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Here's Dani's message from the other thread:

Thread #2852   Message #12700
Posted By: dani
20-Sep-97 - 10:13 PM
Thread Name: LYRIC:oil in my vessel?/oil in my lamp
Subject: LYRIC:oil in my vessel?

I had the pleasure this evening of listening to Joe Thompson, an old-time fiddle player, play and sing some wonderful music. Two lovely old hymns he sang I'd like to learn. Anyone heard of one that goes something like, "There's oil in my vessel and my lamp is trimmed and burning..."? As beautiful as the tune was, it escaped me the minute I stopped singing it on the way home. If anyone knows a good recording to learn some of these old gospel hymns/spirituals, I'd love to know where to start.

Thanks, Dani

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Here's the entry on this song from the Traditional Ballad Index:

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning

DESCRIPTION: "Keep your lamp trimmed and burning (x3) For this world is almost gone" "Brother, don't you get (a-)worried (x3) For this world is almost gone." "Sister, don't stop prayin'..." "Preacher, don't stop preachin'..."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: Late 1928 (recording, Blind Willie Johnson & Angeline Johnson)
KEYWORDS: religious nonballad
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Silber-FSWB, p. 361, "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning" (1 text)
Roud #10433
RECORDINGS:
Blind Willie Johnson & Angeline Johnson, "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning" (Columbia 14425-D, 1929; rec. 1928; on BWJ01, BWJ02)
Fred McDowell, "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning" (on LomaxCD1703)
NOTES [11 words]: A reference to the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, Matt. 25:1-13. - RBW
File: FSWB361

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