Keep Your Lamps

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Choir Exam Research Paper Keep Your Lamps Matthew 25: 1-13 Keep Your Lamps is an African American spiritual song. This song may have very well been sung by slaves during the long days to express spirtitual devotion. The expression “Keep your lamps trimmed and burning” may refer to a passage in the bible specifically Mathew 25 : 1 -13. “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” This song could have meant that their freedom awaited them at heaves door and they should have faith that one day it will be gone forever. This song may also have been used in the Underground Railroad to send or receive secret/coded messages. The composer of this song is unknown, but the arranger Andre Tomas is very well known. He was born in Ithaca, New York on October 8th, 1939 and is still living today. He began creating music
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