Let Your Light Shine on Me

Not to be confused with Let It Shine (disambiguation) or Shined on Me.
"Let Your Light Shine on Me"
Single by Blind Willie Johnson
B-side "God Don't Never Change"
Released 1929–30
Format 10" 78 rpm
Recorded December 10, 1929
Genre Gospel blues
Length 3:11
Label Columbia 14490-D
Blind Willie Johnson singles chronology
"Lord I Just Can't Keep From Crying"
(1929)
"Let Your Light Shine on Me"
(1929)
"Bye and Bye I'm Goin' to See the King"
(1929)

"Let Your Light Shine on Me" is a traditional gospel blues song recorded in 1929 by Blind Willie Johnson. The song itself is also known as "Let It Shine on Me", "Light from the Lighthouse" and "Light from Your Lighthouse".

Description

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

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

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]

Unrelated songs with related titles

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. 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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