Scripture Verse

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. Luke 11:33

Introduction

portrait
Johnson Oatman, Jr.
1856–1922

Words: John­son Oat­man, Jr., in Stan­dard Songs, Spe­cial Ed­i­tion (Rich­mond, Vir­gin­ia: Pres­by­te­ri­an Com­mit­tee of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1900).

Music: Ad­am Gei­bel, Up­lift­ed Voic­es (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Ad­am Gei­bel Mu­sic, 1901), num­ber 8 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Oat­man,

illustration
Izumo Hinomisaki, Japan

Lyrics

Standing like a lighthouse
On the shores of time,
Looking o’er the waves
Of darkness, sin, and crime,
Open up your windows,
There’s a work sublime,
Let the Gospel light shine out.

Refrain

Let the Gospel light shine out;
Let the Gospel light shine out;
Keep your lamp in order,
Trimmed and burning bright—
Let the Gospel light shine out.

There are human shipwrecks
Lying all around,
O, what moral darkness
Everywhere is found;
Warn some other vessels
Off from dangerous ground,
Let the Gospel light shine out.

Refrain

Do not let the bushel
Cover up your light;
Keep your lamp in order,
Trimmed and burning bright;
Try to be a blessing,
Brighten up the night,
Let the Gospel light shine out.

Refrain

Try to live for Jesus,
Till this life is o’er,
For along this pathway
You will pass no more;
Till He bids you welcome
On the other shore,
Let the Gospel light shine out.

Refrain