He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, his disdain for city life, his enthusiasm for music, and his relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including country music, the Billboard Hot 100, and adult contemporary, in all earning him twelve gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Sunshine on My Shoulders".
Denver starred in films and several notable television specials in the 1970s and 1980s. He continued to record in the 1990s, also focusing on environmental issues by lending vocal support to space exploration and testifying in front of Congress in protest against censorship in music. He lived in Aspen, Colorado for much of his life and was known for his love of Colorado which he sang about numerous times. In 1974 Denver was named poet laureate of the state. The Colorado state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one of its two state songs in 2007. Denver was an avid pilot and died at the age of 53 in a single-fatality crash of his personal experimental aircraft.
Sunshine on My Shoulders
John Denver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always
makes me high
The lyrics of the song Sunshine on My Shoulders by John Denver revolve around the theme of happiness and joy. The first verse describes the feelings of the singer towards sunshine, they state that sunshine on their shoulders brings happiness and joy. The second line of the verse talks about how sunshine in their eyes can bring tears, which could mean that the feeling of happiness is so intense that it brings tears to the eyes. The third line tells us how sunshine on the water looks lovely, indicating that nature itself brings happiness. The final line of the verse states that sunshine almost always makes the singer feel high. This could mean that the feeling of happiness is so intense that it is almost like a drug.
The second verse is all about the singer's desire to share their happiness with someone else. They express their desire to give someone a day just like today and to sing them a song that makes them feel the same as the singer does. The third and final verse states that if the singer had a tale or wish to share, they would tell a tale that makes the listener smile and wish for sunshine all the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Feeling the warmth of the sun on my shoulders brings joy and happiness to my heart.
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
The bright rays of the sun shining directly into my eyes can cause tears to flow down my cheeks.
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
The reflection of the sun on the water creates a magnificent sight to behold.
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Spending time in the presence of the sun almost always fills me with a sense of euphoria and elation.
If I had a day that I could give you
If it were possible, I would give you a day that is as wonderful and perfect as this one.
I'd give to you a day just like today
I would make your day as beautiful and lovely as it is right now.
If I had a song that I could sing for you
If I could make music that could express my love and happiness for you, I would sing it to serenade you.
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way
I would like my melody to evoke the same emotions in you and make you feel as happy and uplifted as I do.
If I had a tale that I could tell you
If I knew a story that could entertain and bring a smile to your face, I would share it with you.
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
I guarantee that my story would bring cheer and joy to your day.
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
If I had the power to grant your every desire, what would you want?
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while
No matter what you desire, I would wish that you would always have sunshine in your life to bring happiness and warmth to your heart.
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
The glow and warmth of the sun in my life almost every day fills me with a sense of elation and contentment that is hard to replicate.
Sunshine almost always
The sun is such a significant source of joy and happiness in my life that I feel its warmth and light almost always.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Michael C. Taylor, John Denver, Richard L. Kniss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
Hey J Parker, Sorry to hear you're having these issues. Would you mind please emailing our support team an example album or track to support [at] sonichits.com?
J Parker
SonicHits just gets worse and worse. Albums that don't play,songs that don't play, tracks that are NOT the named song or even the right artist, adverts that cover content and cause the site to interrupt and buffer inthe middle of songs. I've got to find a better music site!
@angelicdarkvader6701
The Dark Vader in me
loathez to cry,
which incidentally
the Scorpio in me
iz indifferent to tearz,
for they can lie...
However ; within this
cold bitter heart
am somewhat moved,
despite my love
for dark rainy dayz🖤
@frankjacoby9460
Today is my 28 year old son’s 22nd anniversary since he passed away from cancer, before he went with our Lord I asked him what his favorite song was, and thinking he was going to name a heavy metal song I was surprised to hear him say “ Sunshine on my shoulders”, so I always remember my son when I hear this song and I always listen to it on his anniversary! I miss him so much!
@phillyphever1
Beautiful tribute. My favorite song too! God bless you! 🌞
@vincentkerr1819
Amazing 👏 song 🎵 for him ❤️.
@eileen74086
❤
@celebratinglivestogether
Missing him can be very heartbreaking. I pray the good Lord holds you in His arms and consoles you. May you feel your son's kiss on your forehead through the wind and may Jesus help you find peace of heart and mind.
@DigitalUnderground7
Your son is still with you 😊 every single day ❤
@kevinwoodruff321
My wife was battling cancer, on one of her good days, she wanted to go to Disney World, she loved the atmosphere. We got home that evening, I sang this to her as I put her into bed. Three months later she lost her battle and I lost her love. “If I had a day that I could give you, I’d give to you a day just like today”.
@p34piper
I'm currently battling breast cancer so I understand this. When the good days are there you just want to do what you have wanted to do before you were diagnosed. I have my last chemo next week. Let's pray the MRI is good in a few weeks ahead of my surgery and then radiation. I'm hoping to put all this behind me. I'm sorry your wife lost her battle with whatever cancer she battled. Hope you think of her when you hear this song forever and keep the great memories you made together and they make you happy like the sunshine on your shoulders