Song Video
Lyrics
This little light of mine,
I'm going to let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm going to let it shine.
This little light of mine,.
I'm going to let it shine,
Ev'ry day, ev'ry day,
Ev'ry day, ev'ry day,
Gonna let my little light shine.
On Monday, He gave me the gift of love;
On Tuesday, peace came from above.
On Wednesday told me to have more faith;
On Thursday, gave me a little more grace.
On Friday, told me to watch and pray
On Saturday, told me just what to say,
On Sunday, gave the power divine
Just to let my little light shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm going to let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm going to let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm going to let it shine,
Ev'ry day, ev'ry day,
Ev'ry day, ev'ry day,
Gonna let my little light shine.
Now some say you got to run and hide.
But we say there's no place to hide.
And some say let others decide,
But we say let the people decide.
Some say the time's not right,
But we say the time's just right.
If there's a dark corner in our land,
You got to let your little light shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm going to let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm going to let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm going to let it shine,
Ev'ry day, ev'ry day,
Ev'ry day, ev'ry day,
Gonna let my little light shine.
Information About This Little Light of Mine
"This Little Light of Mine" was written by Harry Dixon Loes in 1920 and was made into a tradition as far as American folk music goes. It was first thought that it came from slave spirituals because it became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, but this was not the case. It is a classic gospel children's song that children are going to be singing for many years to come. Most people believe that the song comes from Matthew 5:16, which states, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heaven".
Some people also think that it comes from two other verses in the Bible, Luke 11:33, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light". or Matthew 5:14-15, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house".
This song has been sung by a lot of different people for a variety of different reasons. Even though most of the time, it is sung as a lesson to children about the Bible. This is why this song is so popular among the younger generation of children.
Alternative Lyrics & Related Songs
Additional verse sent in by one of our fans
Hide it under a bush, oh no!
I'm going to let it shine.
Hide it under a bush, oh no!
I'm going to let it shine. let it shine, let it shine.
These 2 verses are also great to sing along too
This little light of mine
I'm gunna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gunna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gunna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel. .NO!
I'm gunna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel. .NO!
I'm gunna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Don't let anyone blow it out
I'm gunna let it shine
Don't let anyone blow it out
I'm gunna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.