Music Friday is when we spotlight songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, international blues troubadour Eric Bibb turns a single gemstone metaphor into a powerful message about perseverance, self-worth and encouragement in his uplifting 2006 track “Shine On.”
At the heart of the song is one resonant line: “You’re a diamond to me.” It’s not a boast about wealth or status, but a reminder of intrinsic value — the idea that pressure, patience and persistence can reveal brilliance where others might only see rough edges. Bibb’s diamond imagery becomes a stand-in for human potential, urging listeners to keep striving even when the road feels steep.
Bibb sings, “Don’t stop ’til you win your prize / Lean on all the love that is in my eyes / You’re a diamond to me, yes you are / Shine on.” The gemstone reference does the heavy lifting here. Diamonds don’t shine by accident; they emerge from pressure and are brought to life through careful cutting and unhurried mastery, a process that mirrors personal growth and hard-earned achievement.
Co-written with Figge Boström, “Shine On” appears on Bibb’s album Diamond Days. Reviewing the release for PopMatters, critic Joe Montague noted, “There are no rough edges on Diamond Days or Eric Bibb… The man is so effortless when he plays that one has difficulty determining where the guitar stops and where Bibb begins.”
Born in New York City in 1951, Bibb grew up surrounded by music. His father was active in the 1960s folk scene, and family friends included Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. When Bibb expressed interest in learning guitar, it was Dylan who famously advised the 11-year-old to “Keep it simple, forget all that fancy stuff” — guidance that still echoes in Bibb’s clear, uncluttered songwriting style.
After a brief stint studying psychology and Russian at Columbia University, Bibb left academia behind and moved to Paris, immersing himself in pre-war blues traditions. That decision launched an international career that has taken him across Europe, Canada, Australia and the United States. Along the way, he earned three Grammy nominations for albums including Shakin’ a Tailfeather (1997), Migration Blues (2017) and Ridin’ (2023).
Nearly two decades after “Shine On” was released, its message remains timely — and Bibb remains very much in the spotlight. In 2026, he is actively touring in support of his album One Mississippi, with dates scheduled across the UK, Europe and a full-band Australian tour in May.
Please enjoy the audio clip of Eric Bibb performing “Shine On,” and feel free to sing along with the lyrics below…
“Shine On”
Written by Eric Bibb and Figge Bostrom. Performed by Eric Bibb.
Life gives you the runaround you say
You wanna know
How much dues must you pay
Well, you can pay off what you want
When there’s a will
There’s always a way
Keeping your eyes on
That mountain top
Stepping up time
Don’t ever, ever stop
Keep on when your mind says quit
Dream on ’til you find your living it
I’ll be right by your side
Yeah baby keep on
Don’t stop ’til you win your prize
Lean on all the love that is in my eyes
You’re a diamond to me, yes you are
Shine on
I know what you’ve been through
I see
But it’s time to leave it behind and let it be
Yeah
Hard-earned wisdom is something you can’t buy
It’s the wings of experience
That make you fly
Don’t look back
Don’t look back
Don’t turn around
You’re on the right track
Keep on when your mind says quit
Dream on ’til you find your living it
I’ll be right by your side
Yeah baby keep on
Don’t stop ’til you win your prize
Lean on all the love that is in my eyes
You’re a diamond to me, yes you are
Shine on
Shine on
Keep on when your mind says quit
Dream on ’til you find your living it
I’ll be right by your side
Yeah baby
Don’t stop ’til you win your prize
Lean on all the love that’s in my eyes
You’re a diamond to me, yes you are
Shine on
Shine on
Baby you got to shine on
That’s what you’re born to do
Me and you
You got to shine on
Sparkle baby
Baby you got to
Shine on
Credit: Photo by Bryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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