"Let Your Light Shine on Me"
Single by Blind Willie Johnson
RecordedDecember 10, 1929
GenreGospel blues
Length3:11
LabelColumbia (14490-D)
Songwriter(s)Unknown

"Let Your Light Shine on Me" is a traditional gospel blues song, having been recorded by The Wiseman Quartet in 1923, by Ernest Phipps in 1928, and by Blind Willie Johnson in 1929. The song itself is also known as "Shine On Me", "Let It Shine on Me", "Light from the Lighthouse" and "Light from Your Lighthouse".

Description

Ernest Phipps' version, like almost all early renditions, starts in a slow tempo and is then reprised at a much faster tempo. Johnson's version was released on Columbia 14490-D together with "God Don't Never Change".[1] He starts singing in his tenor voice, then drops into his 'growl' or false bass voice for the middle section.[2][3]

The chorus runs:

Let it shine on me, let it shine on me,
Let the light from your lighthouse shine on me.
Let it shine on me, let it shine on me,
Let the light from your lighthouse shine on (me).

The words appear to allude to the Gospel of Matthew at 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven". "Lighthouse" was a popular metaphor for heavenly light.[2]

Performances

The following recordings, which vary widely in character, are by people with Wikipedia articles:

Bob Dylan has played the song live, but as of January 2015 not recorded it.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Blind Willie Johnson discography". Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Blakey, D. N. (2007). Revelation Blind Willie Johnson the Biography. Online: Lulu Publishing. p. 126–132.
  3. ↑ "Let Your Light Shine On Me". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  4. ↑ Lead Belly: Let It Shine on Me at AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  5. ↑ Lead Belly: Shine on Me at AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Let it Shine on Me". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  7. ↑ Lonnie Donegan: Lonnie at AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Mr. Acker Bilk's Paramount Jazz Band – The Seven Ages Of Acker". discogs.com. February 1960. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ "About The Seekers ..." Official website. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  10. ↑ The Incredible String Band: From Chelsea to Toronto at AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  11. ↑ Restless Faithful Desperate/Moonlight at AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  12. ↑ The Radiators: 10/09/09 New Orleans, LA Tipitinas at AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ The Black Twig Pickers / Charlie Parr: Glory in the Meeting House at AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Let Your Light Shine on Me by Blind Willie Johnson". bobdylan.com. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  15. ↑ The Soul Stirrers: Shine on Me at AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  16. ↑ Tiësto: Nyana at AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ Smokey Robinson: Food for the Spirit at AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
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