You don’t normally think of The Rolling Stones as sentimentalists. The band built a reputation as unsparing and unafraid when it came to delving into darker corners within their songs.
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When a former member of the band passed away, however, it understandably caused the band to reflect. Mick Jagger responded with some of the most moving lyrics of the band’s career on the song “Shine A Light”.
Taking a Shine
By the end of his time in The Rolling Stones, Brian Jones had mostly worn out his welcome within the band. At one time, he’d been an essential member. His love of the blues helped to establish the group’s early identity. And his ability on multiple instruments brought a ton of flavor to their mid-60s output.
But Jones became somewhat unreliable as the decade progressed, in large part due to his substance abuse issues, which also caused multiple legal problems. It’s also been argued by many that the other Stones weren’t as sensitive to his situation as they could have been. In any case, the band made the decision to fire Jones in 1969.
Not even a month after the announcement that he was out of the band, Jones was found dead in his swimming pool at the age of just 27 years old. The Stones dedicated a concert, their first with new guitarist Mick Taylor, to Jones just a few days later. Mick Jagger recited a poem in his honor, and the band played one of his favorite blues songs.
But the most lasting tribute came in the form of “Shine A Light”, which appeared on the band’s classic 1972 double album Exile On Main St. With special guest Billy Preston’s organ and piano lending it a distinct gospel feel, the song both honors the inscrutable nature of Jones and wishes him well on his journey in the next world.
Examining the Lyrics of “Shine A Light”
One of the reasons why “Shine A Light” is so powerful is because it doesn’t shy away from the rougher parts of Jones’ life. (The fact that Jagger began writing it while the musician was still alive could have something to do with that.) We begin with the guitarist sprawled out in some hotel room. “With a smile on your face and tear right in your eye,” is how Jagger describes him.
Even then, Jagger admits that he can’t quite grasp the essence of Jones: “Couldn’t see to get a line on you.” In the second verse, the character strikes an enchanting pose. “Berber jewelry dangling down the street,” Jagger sings. “Make you flirt your eyes at every woman that you meet.”
Jagger also hints at how Jones’ lifestyle put him in the company of some shady individuals. “When you’re drunk in the alley, baby, with your clothes all torn,” he sings. “And your late night friends leave you in the cold gray dawn.” The singer touches on his helpless feeling when he sees his bandmate surrounded by these “flies.”
“I just can’t brush ‘em off,” Jagger sadly sings.
But Jagger refuses to end the song on a down note. Instead, he imagines an afterlife where Jones is once again the center of attention. Only this time he’s surrounded by beauty and love. “Angels beating their wings in time,” Jagger imagines. “With smiles on their faces and a gleam right in their eyes.” Even in that company, Jones’ charisma proves irresistible. “I thought I heard one sigh for you,” Jagger sings.
In the refrains, Jagger wishes for his friend the kind of heavenly soft landing that life didn’t afford him. “May the good Lord shine a light on you,” he asks. “Make every song your favorite tune.” It’s a lovely thought, and it goes a long way to making “Shine A Light” a fitting tribute to one of the original Rolling Stones.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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