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When faced with the tragedy of watching a loved one tread the less sanctified path of alcohol and drug-induced self-destruction, sometimes the only thing left to do is pray for divine intervention. "Shine a Light" is a stunning example of such a prayer. Inspired by former Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones, this Jagger ode to his stumbling friend pleads for the glory of God to shine upon him and save him from himself. Sadly, for Brian Jones this grandest of interventions was not to be.

An early version of "Shine a Light" was originally recorded in March 1968 during the Beggars Banquet sessions. This version was subsequently recorded as "(Can't Seem to) Get a Line on You" by Leon Russell at Olympic Studios in October 1969 with the assistance of Mick Jagger on vocals, Charlie Watts on drums, Bill Wyman on bass, and Mick Taylor on slide guitar. When Russell's self-titled album was released in 1970, "Get a Line On You" was not included; however, it eventually surfaced as a bonus track on the 1994 re-release of the album. After the death of Brian Jones – perhaps the reason for Russell not releasing the track – Mick Jagger revised the lyrics and the Rolling Stones recorded a third version at Olympic Studios in July 1970. The album version – which includes Billy Preston on keyboards, Jimmy Miller on drums, and Clydie King, Joe Green, Venetta Fields, and Jesse Kirkland providing backing vocals – was recorded at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles between December 1971 and March 1972.

Watch Shine a Light on YouTube The Rolling Stones, “Shine a Light” – Exile on Main St

By comparing the Leon Russell and Exile version lyrics, we can actually bear witness to the decline of the song's inspiration; for instead of a "smile on your face for every high school girl that you meet," Jagger's sweet honey lover is now "making bloodshot eyes" at every woman that he meets. The latter of course being Trey's lyrical reinterpretation of the original Exile version lyric "make you shut your eyes" that persisted through the first three performances of the song by Phish. Either way, there were far too many flies on the walking corpse that was once his friend. Clearly an act of the good lord was required to ensure his salvation. 

By the time Phish finished playing the penultimate track of their Exile set at Festival 8 (10/31/09), it would have been difficult to find a Phish fan that would not proclaim such an occurrence had in fact saved a guitar-playing friend of theirs from the same fate that befell Brian Jones. It was a truly transcendent moment imbued with a healthy dose of revivalist glory as Trey in effect sang the song to himself. The light of the good lord was indeed shining on us all. Consequently, the tormented angst of loss that cascades from Jagger's vocals on the Stones album version is transformed by the guest horns and soulful backing vocals into a feeling of joyful praise for the grace granted this time around.

Phish performed "Shine a Light" twice more during the remainder of 2009, unfortunately without Sharon Jones and Saundra Williams on backup vocals, Dave Guy on trumpet, David Smith on trombone, and Tony Jarvis on saxophone. "Shine a Light" was played as an encore at the 12/04/09 Madison Square Garden show that featured the first "Glide" since Coventry, perhaps a not so subtle apology for the conditions that prevailed at the time of that ungodly train wreck. As a fitting tribute to the glorious year of rebirth the band had enjoyed, "Shine a Light" also appeared in the second set of the 12/31/09 Miami show that brought it to a conclusion.

Watch Shine a Light on YouTube Phish, "Shine A Light" – 6/17/10, Hartford, CT

Based on its continued appearance in 2010 setlists, "Shine a Light" seemed to be the Exile song that was going to be added to the regular rotation Phish repertoire. In true replacement player (what’s the WAR for this?) fashion, each of the 2010 performances saw the song taking the encore slots that "Loving Cup" would typically fill. Alas, addition to the regular rotation was not in the cards. 

If not for the “S” show 9/2/11 at Dick’s and two solo acoustic Trey performances (2/20/11 and 3/2/11), “Shine a Light” would have been on injured reserve for the entire 2011 season. The following year saw a brief resurgence with four appearances during summer 2012 (check out 8/17/12 BGCA for a pretty slick “Wading” infused jam) that sadly weren’t enough to earn it a full time job. Relegated to the bust-outs and rarities roster, “Shine a Light” appeared once in 2013 (7/20/13 Northerly Island), not at all in 2014 generating a 91-show gap that ended 8/16/15 at MPP, and to close the second set of the first night on the beach in Mexico (1/15/16).    

So "When you're drunk in the alley, baby, with your clothes all torn... and your late night friends leave you in the cold gray dawn... may the good Lord shine a light on you, make every song you sing your favorite tune!" 

Watch Shine a Light on YouTube Phish, “Shine a Light” – 8/16/15, Columbia, MD. Video by LazyLightning55a.

(Jagger/Richards)
© ABKCO Music, Inc. (BMI)

Saw you stretched out in room ten-o-nine
With a smile on your face
And a tear right in your eye
Couldn't see to get a line on you
My sweet honey love
Berber jew'lry jangling down the street
Make you shut your eyes at ev'ry woman that you meet
Could not seem to get high on you
My sweet honey love

May the good Lord shine a light on you
Make every song your favorite tune
May the good Lord shine a light on you
Warm like the evening sun

Well, you're drunk in the alley, baby
With your clothes all torn
And your late night friends
Leave you in the cold grey dawn
Just seemed too many flies on you
I just can't brush them off

Angels beating all their wings in time
With smiles on their faces
And a gleam right in their eyes
Thought I heard one sigh for you
Come on up, come on up, now
Come on up, now

May the good Lord shine a light on you
Make every song you sing your favourite tune
May the good Lord shine a light on you
Warm like the evening sun