McShann was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and began working as a professional musician in 1931, performing around Tulsa, Oklahoma and neighboring Arkansas. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1936, and set up his own big band, which featured Charlie Parker (from 1937 to 1942), Bernard Anderson, Ben Webster and Walter Brown. Although its book included both swing and blues numbers, the band played blues on most of its records; its most popular recording was "Confessin' the Blues." The group disbanded when McShann was drafted into the Army in 1944, and he was unable to successfully restart it when he got out.
After the war McShann began to lead small groups featuring blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon. Witherspoon started recording with McShann in 1945, and fronting McShann's band, had a hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business." McShann then played in obscurity until 1969, when he became popular as a singer as well as a pianist, often performing with Claude Williams. He continued recording and touring through the 1990s. Well into his 80s McShann still performed occasionally, particularly in the Kansas City area and Toronto Ontario.
Crime-fiction writer Elmore Leonard featured McShann as a character in his 2005 novel, The Hot Kid.
On December 7, 2006, McShann died at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City.
That Lucky Old Sun
Jay McShann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids
Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
Take me across and wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Up in the mornin' out on the job,
Work like the devil for my pay
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids
Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Good Lawd above, can't you know I'm pinin'
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
Take me across and wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Jay McShann's song "That Lucky Old Sun" portrays the burdens and struggles of everyday life. The singer wakes up early to commute to work and labors tirelessly for his wages. Meanwhile, the sun seems to roll around heaven all day without much responsibility. The man's toil is evident in his sweat, wrinkles, and exhaustion. His worries culminate in tears, and he turns to God for a solution. He prays for a silver lining and to be lifted to paradise where he envies the lucky sun's relaxed state. He wishes to be cleansed of his troubles like the sun that rolls around in heaven all day.
McShann's song is a reminder that life is full of hardships and struggles that we cannot always control. Instead, we should stop and appreciate the simple pleasures in life, like the lucky old sun that rolls around all day. The song also touches on themes of faith and the idea of finding hope in God during difficult times. Ultimately, the singer finds comfort in hoping for paradise and seeking divine intervention as he longs for a break from the workday routine.
Fact 1: "That Lucky Old Sun" is a song that's been covered by countless artists from various genres, including Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles.
Fact 2: The song was written by Beasley Smith and Haven Gillespie and first released in 1949.
Fact 3: Smith and Gillespie were a prolific songwriting duo who penned popular hits like "Drifting and Dreaming," "You're a Heavenly Thing," and "Far Away Places."
Fact 4: The song's lyrics were inspired by African American spirituals and gospel music.
Fact 5: "That Lucky Old Sun" has been featured in several films and television shows, including "Meet Me In Las Vegas," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," and "The Nanny."
Fact 6: The song's lyrics were rewritten in 2008 by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks for a new album of the same name.
Fact 7: Louis Armstrong's cover of the song was a massive hit, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard charts in 1949.
Fact 8: The song's lyrics have been adapted into a picture book for children, with illustrations by Kathryn Madeline Allen.
Fact 9: The lyrics of the song were included in a greeting card by Hallmark in the 1950s.
Fact 10: The song inspired a suite that was performed by Beverly Sills and the New York Philharmonic in the 1970s.
Chords:
Verse:
Eb - Eb - Ab - Ab
G7 - G7 - Cm - Cm
Eb - Eb - Ab - Ab
G7 - G7 - Cm - Cm
Chorus:
Ab - AbM7 - Ab7 - AbM7
G - G7 - Cm - Cdim7
Fm7 - Bb7 - Eb - G7
Line by Line Meaning
Up in the mornin' out on the job, work like the devil for my pay
Everyday I wake up early and go to work, working really hard for my pay.
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
The sun doesn't have any responsibilities or duties, it just rolls around in heaven all day.
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
I work hard all day and also take care of my family, toiling and struggling for them.
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
In contrast to me, the sun has nothing to worry about and just spends its time rolling around in heaven all day.
Good Lawd above, can't you know I'm pinin' Tears all in my eyes
I am desperately longing for relief and am even crying because of it, and ask God for help.
Send down that cloud with a silver linin' Lift me to paradise
I want God to help me by sending down a cloud with a silver lining to lift me up and take me to paradise.
Show me that river Take me across and wash all my troubles away
I want God to show me a river that can take me across and wash away all my troubles and problems.
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
Just like the sun who has nothing to do, I wish to have nothing to do and just roll around in heaven all day without any responsibilities or problems.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Beasley Smith, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind