Unlike Daddy, Mommy had no musical aptitude, and did not try to sing much. This was one of the few songs she knew, and she used it as a lullaby, holding us (one at a time) in a big old rocking chair.
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 think Mommy usually just sang the chorus (above) in a repetitious way; however, I do recall hearing her sing the first verse, modifying the last line to "So I hung my head down and cried." (Note "love" for "miss" in the chorus.) The rest of the lyrics (appearing here on the basis of a version in the Mudcat Café's "Digitrad", are not part of my repertoire and thus, I assume, were not part of hers, either.)
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
Jimmy Davis & Charles Mitchell)
The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried.
Chorus (after each verse):
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know, dear, how much I miss you
Please don't take my sunshine away
I'll always love you and make you happy,
If you will only stay the same.
But if you leave me to love another,
You'll regret it all some day:
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:
