Give me Oil in my Lamp / Give me Joy in my Heart / Sing Hosanna

This is a popular praise-chorus style hymn. It was originally based on the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) with the first verse being "Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning ..." - although the song is regularly sung without the first verse.

It's been widely used as a campfire song, with various improvised verses including:

Give me joy in my heart keep me praising
Give me peace in my heart keep me resting
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving
Shed Your love in my heart, keep me sharing.
Place Your peace in my heart, keep me praising
Place Your faith in my heart, keep me trusting
Hide Your word in my heart, keep me learning.
Give me truth as my guide, keep me seeking.
Give me joy in my soul, keep me shining
Give me love in my life, keep me sharing

And of course many others of a less religious nature, eg 'Give me umption in my gumption, help me function'.

The origin is unknown: A few publications have attributed the words to A. Sevison / Singspiration and the music to The Csehys, but no reliable information has been found about this status. Some have suggested that this copyright may be specific to the verse "Make me fishers of men keep me searching" and/or a particular arrangement of the tune.

The simple lyrics and repetition mean that the song is very suitable for children. It has been published in various different arrangements and recorded by various artists.

Downloads

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Lead sheet (melody + chords)

2-part or unison choir arrangement by Joseph M. Martin

PowerPoint slides

Examples

Men's choir with keyboard backing:

Contemporary praise band:

Duet with guitar, country-style:

Congregation with organ:

Folk-group with band - recorded live in a church service:

Massed choir with organ

Lyrics

Give my oil in my lamp, keep me burning,
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray,
Give my oil in my lamp, keep me burning,
Keep me burning 'till the end of day. Refrain

Chorus
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King.

Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
Give me joy in my heart, I pray,
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
Keep me praising 'till the break of day.

Give me peace in my heart, keep me praying,
Give me peace in my heart, I pray,
Give me peace in my heart, keep me praying,
Keep me praying 'till the end of day.

Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
Give me love in my heart, I pray,
Give me love in my heart, keep me praying,
Keep me serving 'till the end of day.

ABC Notation

About ABC notation

  X:1

  T:Give me Joy in my Heart

  C:Unknown

  Z:abc-transcription www.GodSongs.net

  M:4/4

  L:1/4

  K:Dmaj

  A/2A/2  | "D"A F/2E/2 D E/2D/2 | "G"B,/2 D3/2-D "A"A/2A/2 | "D"A F/2E/2
  "E7"D F      | "A"E3  A/2A/2 |

  w:1~~~Give me joy in my heart, keep me prais-ing,_ Give me joy in my heart, I
  pray, give me

   yyyy         "D"A F/2E/2 D E/2D/2 | "G"B,/2 D3/2-D
  D/2E/2 | "D"F/2A/2 A/2G/2 "A7"F E | "D"D4 |

  w:1~~~joy in my heart, keep me prais-ing,_ Keep me prais-ing 'till the break
  of day.

  "^chorus" A3/2 F/2 "D7"D A | "G"B3/2 G/2 E "E7"B | "A"c3/2 B/2 A/2G/2 F/2E/2 |
  "D"D "G"B "D"A2 |

  w:Sing ho-san-na, sing ho-san-na, Sing ho-san-na to the King of kings!

           A3/2 F/2 "D7"D A |  "G"B3/2 G/2 E "E7"B
  | "A"c3/2 B/2 A/2G/2 F/2E/2 | "D"D3 z |

  w:Sing ho-san-na, sing ho-san-na, Sing ho-san-na to the King.