You Are My Sunshine - From Marelise Voss

Marelise and I met while we helped start off an Indian Film Festival in DC. From the start it was obvious that she and I shared so much in common, above all an overwhelming love for Life. One evening she came by train in pouring rain to deliver a set of photographs just because she promised she would.The only person to ever treat me to a concert on my birthday. They make very few like Mare.



Lew Dite



Ray Charles


YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamt I held you in my arms
But when I woke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
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 and love another,
You'll regret it all some day:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

You told me once, dear, you really loved me
And no one else could come between.
But not you've left me and love another;
You have shattered all of my dreams:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

In all my dreams, dear, you seem to leave me
When I awake my poor heart pains.
So when you come back and make me happy
I'll forgive you dear, I'll take all the blame.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

"You Are My Sunshine" is a popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis. Two versions of "You Are My Sunshine" were recorded and released prior to Jimmie Davis's. The first was recorded for Bluebird Records by The Pine Ridge Boys, who were from Atlanta. The second was recorded for Decca Records by The Rice Brothers Gang. Davis and Charles Mitchell are the credited songwriters of "You Are My Sunshine". Davis bought the song and rights from Paul Rice and put his own name on it, a practice not uncommon in the pre-World War II music business.


"You Are My Sunshine" has been recorded hundreds of times. It is today a widely recognized song and a standard for traditional country music and traditional jazz performers. Early chart versions include: Bing Crosby, Bob Atcher and Bonnie Blue Eyes, Gene Autry, and the Airport Boys. In one or more of these versions, the song was in Billboard's country charts for over one year. The song has also been recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, among others. Charles' version was the most popular, commercially, reaching #1 on the soul singles chart, using a modified melody that little resembled the original.


It has been featured in numerous films, television shows, television commercials, and radio commercials. On The Muppet Show, "You are my sunshine" was part of a scene entitled "Hugga Wugga." Afterwards, Waldorf sang it as well. Statler believed it was directed at him and retorted, "I'm not your son, and my name's not Shine!"