Track 9 of the album Sunday Clothes, Saturday Night · 2016
Lamp Still Burning in the Choir Loft
by Nina Vale
“An empty church, a lamp still lit in the loft. It's about faith that doesn't need an audience.”
soul · gospel soul · hymn soul · 4:15
Lyrics
The pews are empty, the doors are shut But a lamp in the loft is burning up Somebody left it on for the ones who come late Weary and worried, too tired to wait I used to sing here when I was small Voice like a bird on the cold stone wall The hymnbook's worn at the edge of the page Where a hundred hands held on through the age Oh the lamp is burning, burning still Over the valley and over the hill You don't have to be brave, you don't have to be strong Just come on in, you belong, you belong Cold winds rattle the window glass But the light stays steady, it will not pass I hum a line that my grandmother knew And the whole old room hums it back to me too Oh the lamp is burning, burning still Over the valley and over the hill You don't have to be brave, you don't have to be strong Just come on in, you belong, you belong If the night comes heavy, if the road runs long Look for the glow and the half-sung song Somebody kept it for you, somebody stayed And the light was lit before you prayed Oh the lamp is burning, burning still Over the valley and over the hill You don't have to be brave, you don't have to be strong Just come on in, you belong, you belong Burning still, burning still Come on in, you belong