The simple demonstration presented, herein, involves the combustion of acetylene liberated from the rapid hydrolysis of 0.50 g of calcium carbide. The unsaturated hydrocarbon formed burns with a yellow sooty flame in air. This acetylene-air flame being visually attractive is often misused by those attempting to showcase their illusory magical prowess by feigning to light a lamp on water. The present enlightening demonstration enables the understanding of the chemistry principles underlying the purported water lit lamp very efficaciously and helps promote scientific fervor among students with and without chemistry background.