this little light of mine

Medium

Digital

Artist Notes

© 2010 RC deWinter ~ All Rights Reserved When my son was small, one of our favorite activities was listening to and singing along with all kinds of music. We took our love of song into his preschool classroom, where I would visit with my guitar from time to time and teach the children traditional and true folk songs. 'This Little Light of Mine' was a huge hit with everyone; little voices would sing enthusiastically while miming holding their 'little lights'. The song is sometimes listed as a spiritual from the days of slavery, but in reality it was composed specifically for children in the 1920's by a man named Harry Loes. Collected by John Lomax in 1939, the song has become a fixture in American folk music and was promoted, with some lyric changes, by Zilphia Horton and Fannie Lou Hamer for use in the civil rights movement. This is the version we loved best: (chorus) This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. I’m gonna take this light around the world and I’m gonna let it shine. I’m gonna take this light around the world and I’m gonna let it shine. I’m gonna take this light around the world and I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. (chorus) And I won’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine. No, I won’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine. No, I won’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. (chorus) The world as a global village, interconnected in ways social, economic, cultural, environmental. My little light is shining - can you see it? Is yours? Painted, with love, for my late son.