Spirit Shine (from The Gray Race) | Discography | The Bad Religion Page - Since 1995
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Spirit Shine
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Details
Written by: Greg Graffin, Brian Baker
Released in: 1995
BPM: 156
Lyrics
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Shed a tear for the criminal,
Give him something to believe.
Light a fire for the miserable,
Give the darkness some meaning.

Closed wounds harbor pestilence
When you lick them from within,
Charity has a redolence,
Chastity cannot rescind.

Spirit shine, it's a sign
Of a troubled mind. (tortured mind)
Spirit shine all the time
Can render you blind.

You can take it all to heart or throw it all away.
You can call it just a lark or live your life that way.
You can give until you're dry and sucked of all your gleam.
You can fake another cry and compromise your dream.

Spirit shine, it's a sign
Of a tortured mind.
Spirit shine all the time
Can render you blind.

Cling tight to the parable,
Let it dominate your life.
Create a God who's infallible,
Give your leader some respite.

Closed wounds harbor pestilence
When you lick them from within,
Rosy smiles lose their radiance
When you take it on the chin.

Spirit shine, it's a sign
Of a tortured mind.
Spirit shine all the time
Can render you blind.

Versions
Version Length Release Catalog ID Country Format Year
Album version
2:11 The Gray Race United States 12" 2022
2:11 The Gray Race United States 12" 2022
2:11 The Gray Race United States 12" 2022
2:11 The Gray Race Europe 12" 2021
2:11 The Gray Race United States 12" 2018
2:11 The Gray Race Europe 12" 2018
2:11 The Gray Race United States 12" 2018
2:11 The Gray Race Europe 12" 2013
2:11 The Gray Race 6996-1 Europe 12" 2013
2:11 The Gray Race Europe 12" 2013
2:11 The Gray Race 6996-1 United States 12" 2010
2:11 The Gray Race 6996-2 Europe CD 2008
2:11 The Gray Race 88697101822 Germany CD 2007
2:11 The Gray Race Japan CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 82870-4 United States MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race United States MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race DRA 483652 4 Spain MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Turkey MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Europe 12" 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 82870-1 United States 12" 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 483652 1 Europe 12" 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Europe 12" 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Canada CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Australia CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Canada CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race DRA 483652 2 Europe CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race DRA 483652 2 Europe CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 483652-2 Australia CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 82870-2 United States CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race DRA 483652 2 Europe CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race DRA 483652 2 Europe CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 483652 4 Indonesia MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Russia MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Poland MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Europe MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 483652 4 Australia MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 483652-4 Europe MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race n/a United Kingdom MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 82870-4 United States MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 483652-2 Thailand MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 623 Russia MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Russia CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race n/a Germany MC 1995
2:11 The Gray Race 3L4A3 2981063 United States CD 1995
2:11 The Gray Race 752.319/2-483652 Brazil CD 1995
Not specified
2:11 The Gray Race DRA 483652 9 Germany CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race A2 82870 United States CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 82870-2 | D 111751 United States CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 82870-2 United States CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race 82870-2 United States CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race DRA 483652 9 Germany CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race United States CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race United States CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race United States MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Russia MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Russia MC 1996
2:11 The Gray Race DRASAMP 3144 2 Europe CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race DRASAMP 3145 2 Europe CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Mexico CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Poland CD 1996
2:11 The Gray Race Europe CD 1996
Info from 'The Answer'
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Song interpretations (5)
Anonymous
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Location: Global Citizen
Quote
06/30/2005 at 21:52
This song is about religion, Spirit shine aka religion is a sign of a tortured mind, it shows your weak if you need to believe in something. "Spirit shine all the time can render you blind" too much religion can make you blind to whats really going on. Its all about the downside of having a religion.
Nichtsnutz722
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Location: Global Citizen
Quote
07/17/2004 at 02:27
Maybe the proper explanation may be a combination of the two above. From what I've seen, Christians can be giving, but for the wrong reason. Giving for the sake of humanity is not the same as giving in response to a command from a god. It may not be true altruism, but an attempt to let one's 'spirit shine.'
Jwhite_tx
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Location: Global Citizen
Quote
07/17/2004 at 02:27
My interpretation of Spirit Shine is that those who are so concerned about letting their 'spirit shine' are those who have been taken advantage of by religious leaders. I think it may come from a parable in the bible (hence the line 'cling tight to the parable, let it dominate your life'). Kids in Sunday school are taught from a young age (through song and instruction) to let their 'light' shine. Their parents instill in them this fear of an almighty, moral mythological being on whom they should always depend. These young minds come to feel that they are always being attacked by another cunning and evil being, who is always enticing them to sin (It's a sign of a tortured mind). In the end, it seems that religion 'can render you blind.' Brilliant poetry by Graffin. Anyway, anyone w/ a different thought, let us know.
Bad Aeronuts
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Location: Global Citizen
Quote
07/17/2004 at 02:26
Spirit Shine is about having some compassion for the ones hurt. You must take change your views on things in order to look things differently and perhaps in a better way. We must try new approaches to things that seem impossible. I think that's pretty much the theme of the song.
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