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."