PRAY FOR THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT
(Words, Renton Tunnah. Music, Will E. Skidmore.)
Kansas City, Mo.: Skidmore Music Co., 1916.

1. Father was a deacon in a hard shell church,
Way down South where I was born.
People used to come to church from miles around,
Just to hear the holy work go on.
Father grabs a sister 'round the neck and says,
"Sister, won't you sing this song?"
The sister tells the deacon that she didn't have time,
Felt religion comin' on.
Just then somebody got up, turn'd the lights all out,
And you ought to heard that sister shout:

CHORUS: She hollered, "Brother, if you want to spread joy,
Just pray for the lights to stay* out."
She called on Deacon for to kneel and pray.
You ought to heard that sister shout.
Throw'd up both hands and got way back,
Took two steps forw'd and ball'd the Jack.
She hollered, "Brother, if you want to spread joy,
Just pray for the lights to stay* out."

2. Father tried to quieten down his lovin' flock,
Call'd on all the saints above.
All that he could hear way down there in the dark
Was, "Baby, honey, turtle dove."
Deacon grabs his bible firmly in his hand,
Pray'd to be show'd wrong from right.
Just then as if his pray'rs were answered from above,
Someone got up turn'd on the light.
He feels himself a-slippin', grabs the first gal near,
And she sings this sweet song in his ear: CHORUS

* On 2nd chorus, substitute "go."

[Recorded by Milton Brown, The Golden Gate Quartet, Phil Harris, Uncle Dave Macon, T. Texas Tyler, Bob Wills, and several others.]

Words, Renton Tunnah. Music, Will E. Skidmore.
Kansas City, Mo.: Skidmore Music Co., 1916.