- Written by
- Jimmie Davis
- Copyright date
- January 30, 1940
- Language
- English
- Tags
- disputed credits
- Comments
-
The real author of this song will probably stay unknown forever. There are at least four theories about it:
1) Paul Rice wrote it in 1937, inspired by a letter from a fan, and sold his rights to Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell in 1940. Some time later, Mitchell sold his share to Davis. This story is the most trustworthy.
2) Jimmie Davis wrote it in the early twenties. This version is unprovable.
3) An unknown lady singer from South Carolina wrote the song and offered it to the Pine Ridge Boys. Another unconfirmed story, but at least it would explain why they were the first to record it.
4) According to Prof. Toru Mitsui (Kanazawa University), the song was written in 1933 by Oliver Hood. Although the source is very authoritative, also this theory cannot be proven for certain.
When it was copyrighted in 1940 it was attributed to Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell. Currently, only Davis is registered as the composer and author of the song. - Published by
-
PEER INTERNATIONAL CORP
GEMA
APRS BMI
- Licensing
- Request a synchronization license
Adaptations
An adaptation is a musical work, which uses elements (music or lyrics) from another musical work.
-
You Are My Sunshine written by Jimmie Davis English August 22, 1939
- 星星月亮太陽 {xing xing yue liang tai yang} written by Chan Di Yee Chinese 1964
- Ty jsi má láska written by Miloň Čepelka Czech 1971
- Du er min rose written by Peter Abrahamsen Danish 1980
- Jij bent mijn darling written by Johnny Steggerda, Jacques Kluger Dutch 1959
- You Are My Sunshine written by Johnny Hoes Dutch 1979
- De zonne written by Gido van Gent Dutch
- You Are My Sunshine written by Anika Moa English November 29, 2013 — customised lyrics to make song about Moa’s children
- Mä päivänsäteen näin kerran pienen written by Kyllikki Solanterä Finnish 1952
- Päivänsäde written by Kyllikki Solanterä Finnish
- T'es mon soleil written by Jacques Larue French
- Sólskin written by Hafdís Huld Icelandic May 29, 2012
- Du är mitt solsken written by Helge Roundquist Swedish August 1943
- Du är min kärlek written by Björn Edwing Swedish 1977
- Du är mitt solsken written by Christer Lundh Swedish 1987
Partial adaptations
A partial adaptation is a musical work which integrates only a part of another musical work, and this part is only a fragment of the new musical work.
You Are My Sunshine written by Jimmie Davis
- Rootsie & Boopsie written by Papa Winnie, Silvio Melloni, Mario Natale, Roberto Turatti, Gino Zandonà English