Shine on Me
Composed by: Rollo A. Dilworth
Year composed: 2001
Text by: Traditional Spiritual
Arranged by: Rollo A. Dilworth
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation
Duration: 2:45
Program Notes:
Like many African-American spirituals, the melody of “Shine on Me” is built on a pentatonic scale, and it utilizes a text that has multiple meanings. The original text of this spiritual can be found in the opening chorus: Shine on me, Shine on me. I wonder if the lighthouse will shine on me.
The second line of the text metaphorically represents a search for guidance and direction on both a physical and a spiritual level. The additional text and melodies in this arrangement are partnered with the original melody so as to create harmonic progressions consistent with the African-American singing tradition.
Additional Notes
Genre: Spiritual
Vocal Parts: SSA
Instrumentation: Piano
Language: English
Text:
Shine on me.
Shine on me.
I wonder if the lighthouse will shine on me.
Is a light shinin’ above?
Is it shinin’ above in the heavens for me?
I’m wonderin’, wonderin’, wonderin’ if there’s a light
that is shinin’ above in the heavens for me.