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: 1864 (Higginson-ArmyLifeInABlackRegiment)
KEYWORDS: religious nonballad Bible
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Higginson-ArmyLifeInABlackRegiment 7, p. 203, "This World Almost Done" (1 text)
Silber/Silber-FolksingersWordbook, 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 [92 words]: The need to keep your lamp trimmed and burning refers to the parable in Matthew 25:1-13 usually called the "Wise and Foolish Virgins" [or sometimes the Ten Bridesmaids - RBW]. See the notes to "The Ten Virgins." Also see, for example, H.R. Christie, The Christian Church Hymnal (Cincinnati: The Standard Publishing Company, 1906 ("Digitized by Internet Archive") #423 p. 319, "I'll Be Ready," verse 4, "Even should the Lord tarry till midnight so late, I'll be ready to go; With lamp trimmed and burning will patiently wait, I'll be ready to go." - BS
Last updated in version 6.7
File: FSWB361

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