758. Gimme Oil in My Lamp

758. Gimme Oil in My Lamp

'Gimme Oil in My Lamp.' Sung by Will ("Shorty") Love, Trinity College and Duke University janitor, December 9, 1939. For a similar idea cf. FSOA 168.

F-657

 Gim - me oil in my lamp, keep shin - in' and look

 down. Gim - me oil in my lamp I will pray ev - ery 

day. Gim - me oil in my lamp, keep sliin - in' and look

 down
Un - til-the break -of day. 

Scale : Hexachordal. Tonal Center : g. Structure : abacabd (2,2,2,2,2,2,4) = aa^ab (4,4,4,4). The tonal center is the lowest tone. The only change in the text of the various stanzas takes place wherever "Gimme oil" occurs. This is replaced by : "I have oil" ; "You'll need oil" ; "You need's oil."