WHEN IT'S LAMPLIGHTING TIME IN THE VALLEY
(Harold Goodman / Sam C. Hart / Joe Lyons / Curt Poulton / Dean Upson)


The Vagabonds - 1933


Also recorded by: Marty Robbins; Tex Ritter; Slim Dusty; 
Wayne King; Hylo Brown; Bob King; Lester Flat; Ann Case; 
Mac Wiseman; Norman Blake & Rich O'Brien.






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 her boy 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 lamplighting 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




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As recorded by MARTY ROBBINS:




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


When it's lamplighting time I can see her
As she rocks in her chair to and fro
But I know that I'll never more see her
'Cause she's gone to a good place I know


Oh, she lights up her lamp and sits waiting
For she knows not the crime that I've 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 lamplighting time in the valley
And in dreams I go back to my home
I can see that old lamp in the window
It will guide me where ever I roam




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(Contributed by Mel - July 2008)