Perhaps I'm being mean spirited. Perhaps I'm not. But not too long ago I got a bug up the arse about a certain song that's been misused for years. Why is that I asked myself? Well let's see. The chorus is kind of cute. Most people sing just that portion to their children. Honestly most people don't know any other words to the song. It's sort of like Frosty the Snowman. Most people know the chorus but that's it. Or maybe Puff the Magic Dragon. Sorry folks, but a song does not consist of one chorus and that has helped to really perpetuate the myth of what You Are My Sunshine is about.
The song is about broken promises, infidelity, and heartbreak. Certainly not the kinds of values you would want people to learn! So here is the song You Are My Sunshine presented for your perusal. I don't believe this to be the complete song and perhaps a verse or two of it were more recently made up. But it was the most complete sung version I could find, ironically from a very recent Hollywood movie.
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 hhung my head and I cried
(CHORUS)
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
(CHORUS)
You told me once dear you really loved me
And no one could come between
But now you you've left me to love another
You have shattered all of my dreams
(CHORUS)
In all my dreams dear you seem to leave me
When I wake my poor heart aches
So won't you come back and make me happy
I'll forgive you I'll take all the blame.
(CHORUS)
CHORUS
You are my sunshine my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear, how much I *miss* you
Please don't take my sunshine away
Take note. As close as I can figure it, the original word in the chorus was miss, not love as it most popular today. Suddenly even the chorus by itself is no longer appropriate to sing to kids! So not only is the original song in its entirely forsaken by most, but even the chorus is conveniently modified to make it "appropriate." What kind of nonsense is that.
I will concede one thing: "Love" does make for a smoother flowing chorus than "miss" does.
This myth shattering brought to you by none other than me.