Jimmy Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was born in Shenandoah, Pe… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, the son of a music teacher, but overshadowed by his younger brother Tommy Dorsey, the prominent musician. He played trumpet in his youth, appearing on stage in a Vaudeville act as early as 1913. He switched to alto saxophone in 1915, and then learned to double on clarinet.badboom

You Are My Sunshine
Jimmy Dorsey Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You are my lucky star
I saw you from afar
Two lovely eyes at me they were gleaming
Beaming I was star struck
You're all my lucky charms I'm lucky in your arms
You've opened heaven's portal here on earth for this poor mortal
You are my lucky star

You are my lucky star
I saw you from afar
If Garbo is a glamorous creature
You're a four star feature
Though you are never seen
Up on a movie screen

You are my Shearer, Crawford, Hepburn, Harlow and my Garbo
You are my lucky star

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jimmy Dorsey's song "You Are My Sunshine" convey a sense of wonder, admiration, and love. The first stanza describes the singer's initial attraction to their love interest: they saw them from afar, and were instantly drawn to their shining eyes. The second line implies that the love interest is a lucky star, perhaps indicating that they bring good fortune to the singer's life. The singer then goes on to say that they are lucky to be in the arms of this person, and that they have brought a slice of heaven to earth for them. The repetition of the phrase "You are my lucky star" throughout the song serves to reinforce the singer's feelings of fortune and gratitude towards their beloved.

The second stanza compares the love interest to famous Hollywood actresses such as Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, and Jean Harlow. This suggests that the singer sees their love interest as a star or celebrity in their own right, deserving of recognition and admiration. The line "If Garbo is a glamorous creature/ You're a four-star feature" emphasizes this comparison, as it suggests that the love interest is just as glamorous and captivating as Greta Garbo, a legendary actress of the time. Lastly, the singer repeats the phrase "You are my lucky star," affirming their love and admiration once again.

Overall, the lyrics of "You Are My Sunshine" express a sense of awe and reverence towards the singer's love interest, while also conveying a strong emotional bond between the two.

Line by Line Meaning

You are my lucky star
You bring me fortune and success

I saw you from afar
I noticed you from a distance

Two lovely eyes at me they were gleaming
Your attractive gaze caught my attention

Beaming I was star struck
I was mesmerized by your charm

You're all my lucky charms I'm lucky in your arms
You are my good fortune and I am fortunate to be with you

You've opened heaven's portal here on earth for this poor mortal
Being with you feels like being in heaven

If Garbo is a glamorous creature
If Greta Garbo is considered glamorous

You're a four star feature
You are even more desirable than a four-star movie

Though you are never seen
Although you are not a celebrity

Up on a movie screen
Starring in films

You are my Shearer, Crawford, Hepburn, Harlow and my Garbo
You are my favorite actresses rolled into one