Gimme Oil in My Lamp

DESCRIPTION: "Gimme oil in my lamp, keep shinin' and look down. Gimme oil in my lamp; I will pray every day. Gimme oil in my lamp, keep shinin' and look down, Until the break of day." "Sing hosanna (x3) to the king of kings." "Give me (joy/love/faith) in my heart."
AUTHOR: A. Sevison (source: hymnals cited by Hymnary.org)
EARLIEST DATE: 1939 (Brown/Schinhan-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore5)
KEYWORDS: religious nonballad
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Brown/Schinhan-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore5 758, Gimme Oil in My Lamp" (1 short text, 1 tune)
Averill-CampSongsFolkSongs, p. 310, "Give Me Oil for My Lamp" (notes only)
RECORDINGS:
Arthur Alligood, "Sing Hosanna (Oil in My Lamp)" (Fragment: Piotr-Archive #264, recorded 09/26/2022)
NOTES [56 words]: The Arthur Alligord version probably should be considered a humorous parody, with verses "Give me wax on my board, Keep me surfin' for the Lord" and "Give me gas in my Ford, keep me truckin' for the Lord" -- but there is no actual difference in form, so I've kept them together.
I'd sure rather be singing the Alligord version, though. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: BrS5758

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