Lyr Req:When It's Lamp Lightin' Time in the Valley

Subject: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: Carter Nut
Date: 12 Jun 98 - 11:58 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to this very old song? If you do, could you share them with me?

Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: Philip Hudson
Date: 13 Jun 98 - 12:35 AM

Carter Nut: I can remembe only a few lines: "When it's lamp lighting time in the valley/ then in dreams I go back to my home/ I can see that old light in the window/ It guides me wherever I roam." The Lord has granted me a wonderful gift that I am not using to full advantage. I'm sure my 86 year old mother knows more words. I'll call her tomorrow and ask. If I had been alert enough to the treasure I had at hand, I would have gotten the songs that my Grandmothers and Grandfathers sang. In the mean time, someone else may contribute. - Philip Hudson

Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: JT
Date: 13 Jun 98 - 12:38 AM

Perhaps there are more verses than the one that I recall but the one I know is as follows: When its lamp lighting time in the valley And in dreams I go back to my home I can see that old lamp in the window It will follow me where ever I go

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN IT'S LAMP-LIGHTING TIME IN THE VALLE
From: Gene
Date: 13 Jun 98 - 01:05 AM

Here's this version.

WHEN IT'S LAMP-LIGHTING TIME IN THE VALLEY
Recorded by Jim Greer and the MAC-O-CHEE Valley Folks
Writer not listed

There's a lamp shining bright in the valley
In a window, it's shining for me
And I know that my mother is pining
For the boy she is longing to see.

CHORUS

When It's Lamp-Lighting Time In The Valley
Then in dreams, I go back to my home
I can see that old lamp in the window
It will guide me wherever I roam.

In the lamplight each night I can see her
As she rocks in her chair, to and fro
And she prays that I'll come back to see her
Yet, I know that I never can go.

CHORUS

So, she lights up the lamp and sits waiting
For she knows of the time I have done
But I'll change all my ways and I'll meet her
Up in heaven, when life's race is done.

CHORUS

---

Click for alternate version

Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: Philip Hudson
Date: 13 Jun 98 - 01:28 AM

I didn't deliberately send all those identical messages. What did I do wrong? Philip Hudson

Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Jun 98 - 06:48 PM

the most common reason for multiple messages is using the 'reload' button to look at your own post...this re-posts what ever you just did...just click on your new message like you were looking at it for the first time.(I also think that Microsoft Internet Explorer works differently than Netscape sometimes and will cause double posts!!!)

Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: CarterNut
Date: 14 Jun 98 - 11:16 PM

Thanks guys for your help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req:When It's Lamp Lightin' Time in the Valley
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 08:45 AM

Indiana University, and several other libraries, own the sheet music, described thus:

WHEN IT'S LAMP LIGHTIN' TIME IN THE VALLEY
by Joe Lyons and Sam C. Hart.
New York : Shapiro, Bernstein, ©1933.

First Line: As I sit and dream tonight as lonely as can be
First Line of Chorus: When it's lamp lightin' time in the valley

Subject: RE: Lyr Req:When It's Lamp Lightin' Time in the Valley
From: kendall
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 09:18 AM

This is the first song I ever recorded. It was for my Mother.I still have that old 45 rpm record.

My version said ..as she lights up her lamp and keeps waiting,
Never knowing the crime I have done, still I'll change all my ways and I'll meet her up in heaven when life's race is run.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN IT'S LAMP LIGHTIN' TIME IN THE VALLE
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 01:22 PM

Sheet music (partial) and chords at
Lamp Lighting

pmf arrangement, key of G

Usual lyrics:

WHEN IT'S LAMP LIGHTIN' TIME IN THE VALLEY

There's a lamp burning bright in a cabin
In a window it's shining for me
And I know that my mother is praying
For the boy that she is longing to see.

When it's lamp lighting time in the valley
Then in dreams I go back to my home.
I can see that old light in the window
It will guide me wherever I roam.

In the lamplight each night I can see her
As she rocks in her chair to and fro;
Though she prays that I'll come back to see her
Still I know that I never can go.

When it's lamp lighting time in the valley
Then in dreams I go back to my home.
But I've sinned against my home and my loved ones
And now I must evermore roam.

So she lights up the lamp and keeps waiting
For she knows not the crime I have done.
But I'll change all my ways and I'll meet her
Up in Heaven when life's race is run.

When it's lamp lighting time in the valley
Then in dreams I go back to my home.
I can see that old light in the window
It will guide me wherever I roam.

Lyrics from Vagabonds 1933, taken from lyricsplayground.com

Another set of chords at cowboylyrics.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req:When It's Lamp Lightin' Time in the Valley
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 03:09 PM

There's a Tex Ritter recording at YouTube, probably from 1939.