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Collective Soul - Shine


Collective Soul - Shine - About the song


Ed Roland tells the story behind this song:

"I had riffs - this was the late '80s and I was writing a lot of songs. I called it 'drone,' where you either drone the A or the E, and play a melody under it. So, I had a bunch of them that the band I was in at the time were playing. But I always had the 'Shine' riff, and I thought, 'That's a cool riff.' Then I came home and spent the night with my parents and Dean, who is 10 years younger than me - I didn't even know he played guitar. So he was playing guitar, and I joined in. I just showed him the riff, and I was like, 'I need to finish this.' So, I literally just wrote it right there, with Dean, sitting in my parents' living room. I didn't think anything about it. I probably wrote it in 1989, and it wasn't out until 1994."

Because the word "heaven" shows up so many times in the lyrics, "Shine" has often been mislabeled as a Christian song, and Collective Soul is often perceived as a Christian band. The song was written by lead singer Ed Roland, who is the son of a Baptist Minister. Roland rejects the "Christian Band" label, explaining that one doctrine cannot speak for all of the band's members.


Shine - Lyrics


Give me a word, Give me a sign. Show me where to look, Tell me what will I find? What will I find? Lay me on the ground, Or fly me in the sky. Show me where to look, Tell me what will I find? What will I find? Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Love is in the water, Love is in the air. Show me where to look, Tell me will love be there? Love be there? Teach me how to speak, Teach me how to share. Teach me where to go, Tell me will love be there? Love be there? Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Give me a word, Give me a sign. Show me where to look, Tell me what will I find? What will I find? Lay me on the ground, Or fly me in the sky. Show me where to look, Tell me what will I find? What will I find? Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Whoa, heaven let your light shine down Whoa, heaven let your light shine down I'm gonna let it shine I'm gonna let it shine Heaven's little light, gonna shine on me O Hey yeah, hey yeah Heaven's little light, shine on me (Shine) Shine on me (Shine) C'mon and shine


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