lamp lighters lyric

I remember as a child the men who would walk the streets of the Lowland’s Vales lighting the lamps. They wore black tailcoats and very tall stovepipe hats. On top of the hats were thick, ornate candles and as they walked under the lamps, their flame would light the oil street lamps.

They would sing to let people know that twilight was coming, since very few people in the lowlands had clocks. They would begin their trek around six o’clock in the evening and be done with their job by eight at which time everyone would be getting ready for bed.

“The shadows begin to hang on the roof tops

The night is drawing near.

Here come the lighters to drive back the darkness,

To put to ease your fears.

Sing the light we bare to the people

Sing the light that shines.

Fear you not the shadows grow deeper

We hold back the night.

Sleep you now knowing,

the night will not take you.

There’s always star by your side.”