Shine (Newsboys song)

"Shine" is the first single from, and the second track on, Newsboys' 1994 studio album "Going Public". The song is one of the band's best known songs and it was given a Dove Award for Rock song of the year. The song also appears on WOW 1996.

The following phrase from the second verse has been performed several different ways by Newsboys:

when you let it shine
you will inspire the kind of entire turnaround
that would make a bouncer take ballet
even bouncers who aren't...

There is always a pause after the word "aren't," and then a final word to finish the phrase. The originally recorded version has the non-rhyming word "happy" after the pause, but Newsboys have been known in concert to sing the rhyme "gay" instead ("Gay" and "happy" are synonyms.) The live "nosebleed cellphone mix" from the "It Is You" CD single has something unintelligible (perhaps "excuse me") instead of either "happy" or "gay."

Lyrics

Dull as dirt
You can't assert the kind of light
that might persuade a strict dictator to retire
fire the army
teach the poor origami.
the truth is in
the proof is when you hear your heart start asking
"What's my motivation?"

And try as you may
there is no way
to explain the kind of change
that would make an eskimo renouce fur,
that would make a vegetarian barbecue hamster
Unless you can trace this about face to a certain sign

Shine
Make em' wonder what you've got
Make em' wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored.
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let em' see good works and then
Let em' glorify the lord
Shine

Out of the shaker, onto the plate
it isn't Karma
It sure ain't fate
that would make a Deadhead Sell his van
that would make a schizophrenic turn in his crayons
Oprah freaks and Science seeks a rational
that shall excuse your strange behavior

And when you let it shine
you will inspire the kind of entire turn around
that would make a bouncer take ballet
(Even bouncers who aren't Happy)
But out of the glare
with nowhere to turn
you ain't gonna learn it on
"What's My line?"

Shine