This Little Light of Mine

"This Little Light of Mine" is a gospel children's song written by Harry Dixon Loes (1895-1965) in about 1920. Loes, who studied at the Moody Bible Institute and the American Conservatory of Music, was a musical composer, and teacher, who wrote, and co-wrote, several other gospel songs. The song has since entered the folk tradition, first being collected by John Lomax in 1939. Often thought of as a Negro spiritual, it does not, however, appear in any collection of jubilee or plantation songs from the nineteenth century:

Depending on the source, the song may take its theme from Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heaven." Or, it may refer to the words of Jesus in Luke 11:33, where he said, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light." Or, it may be based on Matthew 5:14-15, where Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."^[1]

It has often been published with a set of hand movements to be used for the instruction of children.

Under the influence of Zilphia Horton, Fannie Lou Hamer and others it eventually became a Civil Rights anthem in the 1950s and 1960s. The Seekers recorded it for their second UK album, Hide & Seekers (also known as The Four & Only Seekers) in 1964. Over time it also became a very popular children's song, recorded and performed by the likes of Raffi in the 1980s.

Part of this song was performed by Christina Ricci in the film Black Snake Moan (film) in 2006.

In 2008, the song appeared in the episode "Wednesday's Women", on CBS's television series Cold Case, the song was performed by Tracie Thoms.

LZ7 took their version of the song named "This Little Light" to number 26 in the UK Singles Chart.

(Hed) PE use part of the words in their 2010 song "This Fire".

On the February 15, 2011 episode of Glee, Will Schuester performed the song acoustically for a children's hospital.

In 2011, in the sixth season episode of Criminal Minds, "Henley Waters", the criminal sings part of the song.

1 Lyrics
2 References
3 External links

Lyrics

Verse 1

This little light of mine/I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine

Verse 2

V. 1

Everywhere I go/I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine

V. 2

Hide it under a bushel Oh no!/I'm going to let it shine

Let it Shine/All the time/Let it shine/Oh yeah!

Verse 3

V. 1

Jesus gave it to me/I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine

V. 2

Don't let the Devil blow it out/I'm going to let it shine

Let it Shine/All the time/Let it shine/Oh yeah!

References

^ "The New Sounds for Christ in Zimbabwe – This Little Light Of Mine." The Daily Kos, October 6, 2008. Accessed June 7, 2009.

External links

Spiritual lyrics
Top 10 Civil Rights songs
Sung by German Students
This Little Light of Mine for choir.
recording by Derek Lee Ragin of "This Little Light of Mine"
1962 recording by The Kingston Trio of "Little Light."
"This Little Light of Mine" Doris McMurray, Goree Farm, Huntsville, TX: John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip.

This Little Light of Mine

Contents

Lyrics

Verse 1

Verse 2

V. 1

V. 2

Verse 3

V. 1

V. 2

References

External links