| "Let Your Light Shine on Me" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Blind Willie Johnson | |
| Recorded | December 10, 1929 |
| Genre | Gospel blues |
| Length | 3:11 |
| Label | Columbia (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".
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]
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