Let Your Light Shine 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
Songwriter(s)	Unknown
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)
"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".

Johnson's version was released on Columbia 14490-D together with "God Don't Never Change". He starts singing in his tenor voice, then drops into his 'growl' or false bass voice for the middle section.

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 : "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.

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

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Wikipedia