Sat 22 Nov 2008
The Rolling Stones - Shine A Light (Musical Interlude)
Posted by Jeffman under music videos, musical interlude
Sometimes it good to know you’re not alone in this big, bad world.
But enough of that. Brian Jones was the tortured creative and founding member of The Rolling Stones. He was found dead in his swimming pool on July 3rd 1969.
This song is Mick Jagger’s tribute to Brian Jones, and featured on 1972’s excellent Exile On Main Street album. The vid is one of those tributes prevalent on Youtube.
Incidentally, it’s Jeffman’s second favourite Stones song. Listen to the words.
‘Shine A Light’
Enjoy 
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Jeffman on 
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
When I saw you had written “Brian Jones” I instantly was reminded of Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and J. Hendrix…all of the same mold as Jones. Too sad.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
RedRaider: Very sad indeed, Don. Incidentally, the three you mentioned along with Brian Jones, all died aged 27. No age at all.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 pm
as did tim buckley - or was he 28? jeff buckley made it through to 30. sad sad sad..
so what’s your favourite stones song jeffman?
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
nursemyra: ‘Moonlight Mile’ off Sticky Fingers. All the way.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I hate to rain on your parade, but Shine A Light is not about Brian Jones.
He parted on very poor terms with the Stones after many disagreements. He was regularly violent towards women, including Anita Pallenberg, who left him for Keith Richards.
The song is actually inspired by Mick’s break-up with Marianne Faithfull, who Mick broke up with, following her self destructive descent into drug abuse:
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.
Just seemed too many flies on you, I just can’t brush them off.
She chose to live on a wall in Soho, instead of in Mick’s mansion.
For the record, it’s one of my favourite ever Stones song, moves my soul and has got me through a break up!
I also love Loving Cup, also off Exile, and Winter, from Goats Head Soup.
Thanks for posting this gorgeous song.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Elizabeth: No parades have been rained on.
However, without wishing to get into an argument, I have to stick with my original assertion. It was originally written before Jones’s death and recorded as ‘Get A Line On You’, about his downward spiral into drug-addiction, which led to his sacking from the group. Then following his death it was rewritten as ‘Shine A Light’, the final version being recorded in 1971.
… Berber jewelry jangling down the street,
Making bloodshot eyes at every woman that you meet …
… Angels beating all their wings in time,
With smiles on their faces and a gleam right in their eyes.
Whoa, thought I heard one sigh for you,
Come on up, come on up, now, come on up now …
The first quote suggests a man. The second quote suggests somebody who’s dead.
If this is a myth, then I apologise.
I do however agree with you about Winter off Goats Head Soup.
Thanks for dropping by