Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American si… Read Full Bio ↴Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and musician. His music is often (perhaps inappropriately) placed under the genre of "alt-country". Oldham has recorded under many names, including Palace, Palace Music, Palace Brothers, and Bonnie Billy. He often plays and records with other musicians, including David Pajo and his brothers Ned and Paul Oldham, but is generally the chief creator of the music. He has also been involved in musical projects and bands such as Amalgamated Sons of Rest, The Anomoanon, The Boxhead Ensemble, Tortoise, and The Sundowners as well as releasing his first solo album in 1993. Oldham has said that the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy moniker has many references. These include 'Bonnie' Prince Charlie, an 18th century Jacobite; Billy the Kid, the 19th century American outlaw also known as William Bonney; and the American singer Nat King Cole. He has also appeared in several films, such as the 1987 film Matewan and most recently in Old Joy (released in late 2006). He is also the photographer of the cover image of the slint album Spiderland.

The Sun Shines Down On Me
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Daylight shines through at last
Running right through my past
I know that everything is alright
Oh because the lord let the sun shine down on me
Oh because the lord let the sun shine on you and me

Crying, it now don't seem right
I gained back my soul and my appetite

I'm happy like I've never been before
Oh because the lord let the sun shine down on me
Oh because the lord let the sun shine on you and me

I know I was crazy
Never did a right thing at all
I know I let my mind go lazy
I let my spirit fall
I know there were some things wrong
But now it seems they've truly gone
Cause the lord let the sun shine down on me
Oh because the lord let the sun shine down on me

Said, now smile everybody, don't you see it's gone
I'm surrended by good spirits day and nighttime long
And when I walk, I walk like I've just been born

Oh because the lord let the sun shine down on me
Oh because the lord let the sun shine down on me

Overall Meaning

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's song The Sun Shines Down On Me is a song about finding peace and happiness in life after a period of darkness. The first two lines of the song are reflective of the past that the singer has lived and how they have been able to move on from their difficult times. The lyrics that follow talk about how the sun shining down on them is a sign of everything being alright and how they have gained back their soul and appetite. The singer is grateful to the lord for bringing light into their life and having such a positive impact on their outlook.

The middle section of the song reflects on the singer's consciousness of their past actions and how they have let their spirit fall. However, they've managed to move on from the wrong things they've done and realize that everything has been put right by the lord shining the sun down on them. The song finishes with the singer showing gratitude to the good spirits that surround them being happy and walking with the lightness of someone who has been given a new lease on life.

Overall, the lyrics convey a message of hope and rebirth, where the singer moves from a past of darkness and despair, having lost their soul and appetite, to a state of grace, where they walk like they were just born. The song highlights the importance of finding inner peace and contentment in the face of adversity, and that with the help of a higher power, we can overcome our inner demons.

Line by Line Meaning

Daylight shines through at last
After a period of darkness, the light of day has finally arrived

Running right through my past
The present moment is so powerful that it has made the past irrelevant

I know that everything is alright
This feeling of pure happiness has put any worries or concerns to rest

Oh because the lord let the sun shine down on me
The happiness and hope the singer feels is due to God's grace and favor

Oh because the lord let the sun shine on you and me
The love and grace of God is not restricted to just one person, but is available to all

Crying, it now don't seem right
The sense of sorrow and pain that once seemed so overwhelming is no longer present

I gained back my soul and my appetite
The happiness is so powerful that it has restored the singer's energy and zest for life

I'm happy like I've never been before
The happiness is so strong that it feels completely new and unparalleled

I know I was crazy
The singer recognizes the faults and flaws of their past behavior and choices

Never did a right thing at all
The flaws of the past were pervasive and all-encompassing

I know I let my mind go lazy
The singer allowed themselves to become complacent and lost motivation for anything meaningful

I let my spirit fall
The singer's sense of hope and optimism had dissipated until now

I know there were some things wrong
The singer acknowledges the negative aspects of their past

But now it seems they've truly gone
The hope and joy of the present moment has successfully eclipsed any of the singer's negative past experiences

Said, now smile everybody, don't you see it's gone
The singer shares their positive outlook with others and encourages them to embrace a happy perspective

I'm surrounded by good spirits day and nighttime long
The singer senses a benevolent and positive energy from the world around them that reinforces their joy

And when I walk, I walk like I've just been born
The happiness and excitement is so new and refreshing that it feels like a rebirth

Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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