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

12 Jun 98 - 11:58 PM (#30640)
Subject: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: Carter Nut

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


13 Jun 98 - 12:35 AM (#30650)
Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: Philip Hudson

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


13 Jun 98 - 12:38 AM (#30651)
Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: JT

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


13 Jun 98 - 01:05 AM (#30654)
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN IT'S LAMP-LIGHTING TIME IN THE VALLE
From: Gene

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


13 Jun 98 - 01:28 AM (#30661)
Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: Philip Hudson

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


13 Jun 98 - 06:48 PM (#30714)
Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: Bill D

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!!!)


14 Jun 98 - 11:16 PM (#30778)
Subject: RE: Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
From: CarterNut

Thanks guys for your help.


21 Dec 10 - 08:45 AM (#3058484)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req:When It's Lamp Lightin' Time in the Valley
From: Jim Dixon

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


21 Dec 10 - 09:18 AM (#3058506)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req:When It's Lamp Lightin' Time in the Valley
From: kendall

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.


21 Dec 10 - 01:22 PM (#3058674)
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN IT'S LAMP LIGHTIN' TIME IN THE VALLE
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

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


27 Dec 10 - 03:09 PM (#3062092)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req:When It's Lamp Lightin' Time in the Valley
From: Jim Dixon

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