When It's Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley

For the 1994 Christer Sjögren Christmas album, see När ljusen ska tändas därhemma (album). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "When It's Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

1933 song by The Vagabonds"When It's Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley"Song by The VagabondsLanguageEnglishReleased1933GenreCountrySongwritersThe Vagabonds: Herald Goodman, Curt Poulton, Dean Upson; with Joe Lyons, and Sam C. Hart When It's Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley is a 1933 country ballad to a waltz melody with words and music by Joe Lyons, Sam C. Hart and The Vagabonds, Curt Poulton, Herald Goodman, and Dean Upson. The song was a hit by The Vagabonds. The song lyrics are about one who longs for his mother, who is far away in a valley. Marty Robbins later covered the song. Other singers who has recorded the song include Tex Ritter and Wayne King. In 1936, Larry Vincent and Harry Pease released a song with the same melody titled "When the Sun Says Goodnight to the Mountain". This song was later translated into French and became popular in Canada as "Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montanges", and a bilingual cover by Lucille Starr became an international hit and Canada's first single to sell more than a million copies.

[edit] When Nils Hellström wrote lyrics in Swedish in 1935, its lyrics were changed and the song was turned into a Christmas song: "När ljusen tändas där hemma". The lamp in the lyrics in English was replaced by candles. "När ljusen tändas därhemma" ("When the candles at home are lit)", which describes an old/lonely man/woman sitting, when the darkness of the evening arrives, and dreaming of his/her childhood and old home, became a popular Christmas song in Sweden during the 1930s and 1940s. It's not mentioned in the song lyrics, but many people associate the song with the emigration from Sweden to the United States during the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century and Sweden being the state where the childhood and home is. The word Christmas is never mentioned in the song lyrics, but the word "ljus", which is Swedish for light/candle, is strongly associated with Advent and Christmas in Sweden. The opening words of the first verse, "Var gång skymningen stilla sig sänker" ("Every time when the dusk slowly falls") often refers to December as the darkest month of the year on the Northern Hemisphere. In English, the song has 4 verses, and 2 in Swedish. The song has also got lyrics in Norwegian, as "Når lysene tennes der hjemme" (meaning the same as in Swedish) and Finnish, as "Kodin kynttilät" (Candles of the Home). The song became immensely popular in Finland during the Winter War, as the Finnish lyrics can be interpreted as a soldier's longing to home and his loved ones. The song has also been translated into other languages, with other themes. When the Swedish "dansband", pop and country singer Kikki Danielsson covered the Swedish language version of the song on her 1987 Christmas album "Min barndoms jular", the lyrics was changed a little, and she sang about being "lonely" instead of "old". The second verse opening lyrics "Jag är gammal och sitter och drömmer om min barndom som snabbt rann förbi" ("I am old and sit and dream of my childhood, which fast passed") was replaced with the re-written lyrics "Jag är ensam och sitter och drömmer om min barndom som snabbt rann förbi" ("I am lonely and sit and dream of my childhood, which fast passed"). Swedish dansband Sten & Stanley has also recorded this song with "ensam" lyrics version.

[edit] Johnny Reimar from Denmark performed the song as an uptempo song with the title "Når jeg tænker på lille Alvilde" (When I think of little Alvilde). A song about a man who misses his first love.

Even though it was written in 1933, the gentle waltz rhythm of "When It’s Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley" feels like a natural backdrop for a winter evening by the fire. The lyrical longing for a mother far away mirrors the nostalgic mood many feel during the holidays, when families are either reunited or missing someone dear. Its simple, pastoral melody doesn’t compete with the bustle of modern pop, allowing it to sit comfortably between carols and instrumental pieces. Adding this track to a Christmas mix brings a touch of Americana warmth that complements the flickering lamplight, making it a subtle yet effective mood‑setter for a relaxed festive gathering.

If you want the most authentic feel, look for the original 1933 recording by The Vagabonds – its raw vocal harmonies capture the era’s charm. For a smoother, more polished sound suitable for background music at a dinner, the Marty Robbins version offers richer orchestration while keeping the waltz tempo. Tex Ritter’s take brings a slightly country‑twangy edge that works well if you’re mixing other western‑style tracks. When choosing a version, check the audio quality; many early recordings have been remastered for streaming platforms, but some still retain hiss that can clash with modern speakers. Opt for a remastered release or a high‑resolution digital file to ensure the gentle lamp‑lighting ambience isn’t lost in the noise.

Listeners usually focus on the lyric about yearning for a mother, but the phrase "lamp lighting" is a seasonal cue. In rural communities of the 1930s, families would light oil lamps at dusk to signal the day’s end and gather around for stories—much like today’s Christmas lights that signal a time for togetherness. The song therefore doubles as a quiet ode to the ritual of lighting, an act that has evolved into the modern Christmas tradition of stringing up fairy lights. Recognising this makes the track more than a nostalgic ballad; it becomes a reminder that the simple act of illumination has long been linked to comfort, safety and the festive spirit.