“You Are My Sunshine” is one of the most useful and versatile songs you can play on the ukulele.
It’s widely known as a children’s song, but it also holds deep emotional resonance for older generations. It’s easy for beginners to play, and just about everyone knows the chorus.
But there’s more to it than meets the ear. Behind its cheerful tune lies a poignant story.
The ultimate crossover song
Salon.com describes “You Are My Sunshine” as “a lament, a lullaby, and a singalong”—a true crossover song. The lyrics after the first verse shift from heartwarming to heartbreaking, telling a tale of love and loss.
At the dementia care facility where my mother, Sue, lived for four years, many residents could sing all four verses—even when they couldn’t remember what day it was. (Here’s my post Songs To Remember, about making music with my mother and the other residents.)
Although my mother knew the song well, she never sang it to me as a child. I have a theory about that—more on this shortly.
A musical time capsule
“You Are My Sunshine” has been beloved for nearly nine decades. It’s one of the most recorded songs in American popular music, with versions by Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, Carly Simon, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles. (Salon.com calls Ray’s version the most exciting “adult” rendition.)
New Zealand’s Anika Moa also performs a delightful version with updated lyrics on her kids’ album Songs for Bubbas.
I first noticed the song in the Coen Brothers’ 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a charming tragicomedy starring George Clooney and Holly Hunter. Clooney’s character fronts a band called the Soggy Bottom Boys, who sing “You Are My Sunshine” on a radio show—while on the run from the law.
Who wrote it?
The song’s origins are tangled. It was copyrighted in 1937 by Paul Rice, though the family of musician Oliver Hood—one of Rice’s colleagues—claims Hood was the original writer. In 1939, Rice sold the rights to Charlie Mitchell and country singer Jimmie Davis.
Davis recorded the song in 1940 and used it as his campaign theme in two successful bids to become Governor of Louisiana. He would often sing it on horseback, accompanied by his horse, Sunshine.
However, Davis was elected on a segregationist platform in 1960. That might explain why my American-born mother didn’t sing it to her children. In the early 1960s, the song was strongly associated with a white segregationist politician.
Yet the tune transcended that moment in history. Black artists including Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin also recorded stirring versions. As with many iconic songs, its meaning has evolved with time. (Ode to Joy was once co-opted by the Nazis, but it’s now the anthem of the European Union.)
Learn to play it
I’ve enjoyed playing “You Are My Sunshine” in all kinds of places, and I’m sure you will too.
Here’s Richard G.’s ukulele chord chart for “You Are My Sunshine“.
And here’s a link to my Youtube video showing how to play “You Are My Sunshine”.
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More reading
Beginners Guide To Ukulele – Start Playing Today
How To Choose Your First Ukulele
How To Tune a Ukulele With a Tuner
Top 7 Handy Ukulele Accessories
Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi – The Story Of A Beloved Song
Over the Rainbow and Beyond: A Realistic Guide for Ukulele Beginners
Do You Use a Pick With a Ukulele?
How To Play Ukulele Without Getting a Sore Hand
Why Kids Need Music – and How You Can Help With Ukulele
Do I have To Read Music To Play Ukulele?