Shine, Jesus, Shine

Album: Make Way for Jesus: Shine Jesus Shine (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Christian praise song was written in 1987 by Graham Kendrick. He recalled the story of the tune: "At the time most people were writing short songs or choruses and this is quite substantial like a hymn so I didn't think it would be picked up as quick. It was one of a number of songs which I had written and was originally written without a chorus with the verses similar to the version we use now. I used it in church and it seemed well received."

    "It was then left for a while and I returned to it a few months later with the feeling it needed a chorus. The chorus was a very quick process. The song was used and there seemed something special about it, but over the years it has developed its own identity."
  • "Shine" has proved enduringly popular among evangelical Christian congregations, staying at the top end of the Church Copyright License charts both in the UK and USA for a decade. In 2005 it was voted tenth in a survey conducted by the BBC's Songs Of Praise TV program of the UK's favorite hymns.
  • The song has also been vilified by a wide range of critics. For instance, the editor in chief at the Catholic Herald, Damian Thompson, called it "the most loathed of all happy-clappy hymns."

    Commenting on some of the criticism "Shine" has received, Kendrick wrote in Alpha magazine, "The term 'happy-clappy' came up a few times as a derogatory dismissal of enthusiastic praise. Dismissive terms have the effect of drawing a line on the floor and expecting us to jump either side of it. Well I for one am not going to jump."

    "If the happy-clappy label is being awarded then I hope I qualify! I will not apologize for following in the tradition of the apostle James (4:13), singing songs of praise if I am happy (and presumably clapping if I feel clappy). Mind you, please give me a label also for praying when I am in trouble, in the exact same tradition, of course, and for the times when I must weep with those who weep."

Comments: 1

  • AnonymousFunny, I sang this song and the rest of musical in a stage setting in the late 70's, while in high school. It is beyond me why the song is dated 1987, 10 years past. Unfortunately, I am not able to get a hold of the copy of the musical by the same title, but the lyrics for Shine Jesus Shine are the same.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.