James Kern (“Kay”) Kyser (1905 – 1985) was a famous bandleader and one of t… Read Full Bio ↴James Kern (“Kay”) Kyser (1905 – 1985) was a famous bandleader and one of the first to become a radio celebrity.
He was the son of pharmacists Paul Bynum Kyser and Emily Royster Howell Kyser, and a cousin of Vermont C. Royster. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, his campus popularity and enthusiasm as a cheerleader caused him to be invited to join a commercial band being formed by other students. Although he started clarinet lessons, he was better as an entertaining announcer for the band than as a musician. He adopted the initial of his middle name as part of his stage name, for its alliterative effect.

The Old Lamplighter
Kay Kyser Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He made the night a little brighter, wherever he would go;
The old lamplighter of long, long ago.
His snowy hair was so much whiter beneath the lantern glow,
The old lamplighter of long, long ago.

If there were sweethearts in the park, he'd pass a light and leave it
Dark, His smile would hide a broken heart, you see. For he recalls when
Days were new, he loved someone who loved him too, Who walks along with

Him in memory.

He made the night a little brighter, wherever he would go,
The old lamplighter of long, long ago.

Overall Meaning

The song, The Old Lamplighter, by Kay Kyser, is a tribute to an aged man who used to light the street lamps at night. His job was to keep the city illuminated so that people could safely walk through it. The song describes how the old lamplighter brightened up the night wherever he went. He had snow-white hair and would shine even more beneath the lanterns he lit. The chorus repeats that he was ‘the old lamplighter of long, long ago,’ and this hints at a bygone era in which he worked. The song suggests that perhaps he is no longer around, and that is why he is remembered with nostalgia.

The second verse of the song reveals more about the old lamplighter's character. If there were sweethearts in the park, he would pass a light and leave it dark. His actions suggest that he has sort of been through the same heartbreak himself. It appears that he is trying to make it easier for the lovers by giving them privacy. The old lamplighter's smile would hide a broken heart, which suggests that he may still have some unrequited love, but he is determined to carry on with his work. The song concludes by stating that he may no longer be with us, but he made the city a better place, and his memory will always be cherished.

Line by Line Meaning

He made the night a little brighter, wherever he would go;
He brought light to the darkness, no matter where he went;

The old lamplighter of long, long ago.
He was a revered figure of the past;

His snowy hair was so much whiter beneath the lantern glow,
The light from the lampposts made his already white hair appear even brighter;

If there were sweethearts in the park, he'd pass a light and leave it Dark,
He would leave the couple alone in the dark, rather than interrupt their moment;

His smile would hide a broken heart, you see. For he recalls when Days were new, he loved someone who loved him too,
Despite his smiling and cheerful demeanor, he had his own past heartbreak, where he loved someone who reciprocated his feelings;

Who walks along with Him in memory.
He still remembers the one he loved and imagines walking alongside them in his thoughts;

He made the night a little brighter, wherever he would go,
He brought light to the darkness, no matter where he went;

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NAT SIMON, CHARLES TOBIAS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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