Shine a Little Light

Album: Let's Rock (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Shine a Little Light" is the opening track of Let's Rock, an album that represented a deliberate return by Black Keys to focus on guitar. This song, built around a monster riff, is a case in point. Dan Auerbach told Uncut magazine they didn't go into the studio heavily prepared.

    "We wrote them all on the spot. I didn't bring anything in with me. I didn't want to overthink it I wanted it to feel spontaneous I wanted to be able to like record something not dissimilar to Louie Louie and be perfectly happy with it. I was looking for The Troggs."
  • Lyrically, this song is a meditation on death and grieving for a lost loved one. The subject matter links in with the album title, which was inspired by a Tennessee news story about the execution of double killer Edmund Zagorski. When guards asked Zagorski if he had any last words, he replied, "Let's rock."

    Auerbach explained to Rolling Stone that he read the account while the band was recording the album. "Nothing makes you think more about life than death," he quipped.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.