Put Your Lights On

"Put Your Lights On" is a song by American rock band Santana and American musician Everlast from Santana's 18th studio album, Supernatural. Serviced to US rock radio in August 1999, the song peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number eight on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Put Your Lights On" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

Everlast wrote the song while recovering from a major heart attack that he had suffered in February 1998. He has referred to it as "one of the most personal songs I ever wrote", stating that the song was "kind of all about hope, but it's coming from a really dark place you know, so... and really questioning a lot of your beliefs, and affirming, you know, stuff in your soul." Everlast converted to Islam in 1996, and the end of the song contains the words "La ilaha illa Allah",, the first part of the Shahada, the Islamic profession of faith.
Santana called Everlast in 1998, asking him if he could contribute a song for Supernatural, and Everlast suggested "Put Your Lights On". According to Everlast, Santana loved the song, and "from then on everything went very fast." Everlast has stated that he was unsure whether to include the Arabic-language portion in the recorded song, because "I did not want to sell Allah's words", but that Santana insisted that they be included.

Track listings

Australian CD single

"Put Your Lights On" – 4:10
"Smooth" – 3:53
"Maria Maria" – 4:25

UK CD single

"Put Your Lights On" – 4:03
"Maria Maria" – 4:15
"El farol" – 4:59

European CD single

"Put Your Lights On" – 4:03
"Maria Maria" – 4:15

German maxi-CD single

"Put Your Lights On" – 4:03
"Put Your Lights On" – 4:47
"Maria Maria" – 4:15
"El farol" – 4:59

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the German maxi-CD single liner notes and the Supernatural album booklet.
Studios

Engineered at Fantasy Studios and South Beach Studios
Mixed at South Beach Studios
Mastered at Sterling Sound

Personnel

Everlast – writing, lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Carlos Santana – lead guitar, congas, percussion
Benny Rietveld – bass
Chester Thompson – keyboards
Dante Ross – production, programming
John Gamble – production, programming, engineering
Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
Femio Hernandez – mixing assistance
Steve Fontano – engineering
Steve Farrone – engineering
Mike Anderson – engineering assistance

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart	Position
US Mainstream Rock Tracks	32
US Modern Rock Tracks	92
US Triple-A	16