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You Are My Sunshine
Jimmie Davis and the Holy Grail of Country Music

The iconic country hit “You Are My Sunshine” has become a staple in the musical vocabulary of America. Even if you’ve never heard the original recording of the song, if someone were to hum a few bars, you’d instinctively follow along. It’s a song that has become embedded in popular American culture. However, few people know its history.



The version that we know today is accredited to country music legend and governor of Louisiana Jimmie Davis, but it was actually created by several individuals over a long period of time. There are two known versions of the song recorded before the release of Davis’s hit in the 1940s. A native Atlanta band known as “The Pine Ridge Boys,” staring Marvin Taylor and Doug Spivey, cut the first recording in August of 1939. In September of that year “The Rice Brothers Gang” recorded another version, with the same name. The band was originally from Georgia, but had relocated to Louisiana. Charles Mitchell and Jimmie Davis were the composers of the final version, but Davis purchased the rights to the song from his co-writer and removed his name. Rumor has it that the price Davis paid was as low as fifteen dollars for ownership of the song, which is now possibly the most crucial and valuable song in country music. The song is not in public domain.

Davis relentlessly searched in vain for a record company to cut his song, until Decca accepted him in 1940. The artist used his song as part of his campaign slogan in his run for governor— he would perform the song at rallies and named his horse “Sunshine,” which he later rode to the capitol in protest of the integration of public schools. He later recanted this objection on his deathbed at the age of one hundred and one, saying he regretted his behavior.



The song has been recorded by a variety of famous artists— notably by Gene Audrey and Bing Crosby- which both topped the charts. Hundreds of musicians have followed in their path, varying from rock to soul to jazz. Such artists as Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin and Paul McCartney have released recordings of “You Are My Sunshine,” with notable acclaim. The song has also made cameo appearances on television shows as Star Trek, The Simpsons, Angel and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.



But what makes this song both so identifiable and desirable? Why have so many people been compelled to perform it and also listen to it? The song has usually been defined as “enthusiastic” and “uplifting,” just like it’s peppy melody— but if you actually pay attention to the lyrics, the song is incredibly melancholic. Johnny Cash blurs two stanzas in his version with Bob Dylan, and sings “now you’ve left me to love another/you have shattered all my dreams.” The song is full of intense internal ache, which can go by seemingly unnoticed. “You Are My Sunshine” is as tragic as it is joyful, and perhaps it is this duality that has allowed it to persevere as long as it has.

- Victor Gurbo

You Are My Sunshine

The other night, dear,
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
But when I woke, dear,
I was mistaken
And I hung my head and cried.

(Chorus)
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

I'll always love you
And make you happy
If you will only say the same
But if you leave me
To love another
You'll regret it all some day;

(Chorus)

You told me once, dear
You really loved me
And no one else could come between
But now you've left me
And love another
You have shattered all my dreams;

(Chorus)


http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1472470/you-are-my-sunshine-singer-jimmie-davis-dead-at-101.jhtml