This Little Light of Mine
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Loes, who studied at the Moody Bible Institute and the American Conservatory of Music, was a musical composer and teacher, who wrote or 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." Alternatively, 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."
The song has also been secularised into "This Little Girl of Mine" as recorded by Ray Charles in 1956 and later The Everly Brothers. 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, especially the version by Betty Fikes 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.
Odetta and the Boys' Choir of Harlem performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman on September 17, 2001, on the first show after Letterman resumed broadcasting, after having been off the air for several nights following the events of 9/11.
(Hed) PE use part of the words in their 2010 song "This Fire".
In 2011, in the sixth season episode of Criminal Minds, "Henley Waters", the criminal sings part of the song.
The song is featured prominently in a 2003 episode of Little Bill.
Song is sung by the Elementary class of 2009 at the opening of the Time Capsule from 1959 in the Film 'Knowing' 2009.
The song is sung in a videogame by "Chepito" during Grim Fandango's Year 3 Episode, the song being an analogy to a pearl he uses to traverse the abyssal waters.
The song is remixed in Disney Channel's original movie: Let It Shine 2012.
The song is featured by Mike Farris in his 2014 album Shine For All The People.
- "The New Sounds for Christ in Zimbabwe – This Little Light Of Mine." The Daily Kos, October 6, 2008. Accessed June 7, 2009.
- Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 3 - The Tribal Drum: The rise of rhythm and blues. [Part 1]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu.
- "Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved 2015-06-11.
- "Boys Choir Of Harlem News". Retrieved February 13, 2013.
- "Comeback". Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved February 13, 2013.