West gained fame the world over during his long career as one of the most innovative and influential musicians in the history of rock music. He is most noted for his role as leader of the explosive hard rock trio, Mountain, which was named by VH-1 as one of the Top 100 Hard Rock Groups of all time. With Mountain, he climbed the heights of rock stardom on the strength of a unique, signature guitar sound and classic songs such as “Mississippi Queen”, “Never In My Life” and “Theme From An Imaginary Western”,and Nantucket Sleighride which are still staples of rock radio to this day. West earned the admiration of a long list of famous peers. During his career, he recorded or played with a litany of rock icons including Billy Joel, Van Halen, The Who, Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix, to name just a few. In fact, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Schenker and Richie Sambora have all cited West as an important influence on their own music.
West's bold, expressive and unique guitar style is really a mirror of his own personality. Spend a little time talking with this larger-than-life figure, and you’ll realize that he is as charismatic without a guitar in his hands as he is with one. Possessing a sharp sense of humor, he was at once gregarious and gruff while recounting stories from his legendary past. When discussing his music projects, he exuded an infectious enthusiasm and excitement. Such projects could take him outside his traditional roles of guitarist, singer and songwriter.
In 1986, he acted alongside Tom Hanks and Shelley Long in the hit comedy film, The Money Pit and has lent his distinctive voice to the popular animated series, Beast Wars Transformers which ran for three seasons on the WB network beginning in 1996 before going into syndication. He has also contributed the theme music to the new WB show, Mutant X.
West was a popular personality on the Howard Stern Radio Show and was Musical Director for the shock jock’s FOX series, as well as for the late comedian Sam Kinison. Most recently, he lent his production and songwriting skills to an album by Atlantic Records’ modern rock group, Clutch, and has just released his own instructional guitar DVD, Big Phat Ass Guitar.
You Are My Sunshine
Leslie West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(my only sunshine)
Well, little girl you make me happy sometimes
(you make me happy)
When my skies are grey
(when skies are grey)
Umm, you'll never never never know dear
(you'll never know, dear)
(how much I love you)
Whoa, and I don't want you to take
(don't take my sunshine)
My sunshine away
(shine away)
You told me once, dear
That you really loved me
And no one else
Could ever come between, yeah
But now you left me and you love another, yeah
And you have shattered, oh yeah
All of my dreams
Whoah you are my sunshine
(you are my sunshine)
Ohh, my only sunshine
(my only sunshine)
Ohh, you make me happy sometimes
(you make me happy)
When my skies are grey
(when skies are grey)
Whoa, you'll never never never know dear
(you'll never know, dear)
How much I love you
(how much I love you)
Whoa, and I don't want you to take
(don't take my sunshine)
Whoa, if you love me
(don't take my sunshine)
Umm-hmm, if you need me
(don't take my sunshine)
Uh-huh if you want me
(don't take my sunshine)
Waaaahh! Listen
(don't take my sunshine)
(don't take my sunshine)
I don't want you to take
(don't take my sunshine)
Waaaahh! Listen
(don't take my sunshine)
(don't take my sunshine)
I don't want you to take
(don't take my sunshine)
Whoah, my sunshine away
(shine away)
Leslie West's version of "You are My Sunshine" is a song about a love that has gone wrong. He sings to his lover, whom he calls his sunshine, that although she makes him happy sometimes, she does not know how much he loves her. He pleads with her not to take his sunshine away from him. He tells her that she once told him she loved him and that nobody else could come between them. However, now she has left him and loves another person, and his dreams are shattered. Despite this, he still wants her and needs her, and he begs her not to take his sunshine away.
The lyrics of "You are My Sunshine" are bittersweet, as Leslie West expresses his love and devotion to his lover, while also acknowledging that she has moved on and broken his heart. The song's melody is relatively upbeat, with Leslie West's guitar playing adding a layer of texture to the song. The contrast between the song's melody and the lyrics adds depth to the song and makes it an emotive piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ohh, my only sunshine
(my only sunshine)
Addressing the girl, the singer considers her his only light in the world, and repeats the term 'my sunshine' to express his dependency on her
Well, little girl you make me happy sometimes
(you make me happy)
Acknowledging the girl's positive impact on his life, he concedes that she brings him joy from time to time
When my skies are grey
(when skies are grey)
When the singer is feeling down, he sees the girl as someone who brightens up his otherwise dreary mood
Umm, you'll never never never know dear
(you'll never know, dear)
Despite the singer loving the girl deeply, he fears that she may never understand just how much she means to him
How much I love you
(how much I love you)
The singer expresses how much he loves the girl, despite her possible misunderstanding of the extent of his feelings
Whoa, and I don't want you to take
(don't take my sunshine)
Acknowledging his fear of losing the girl, the singer pleads with her not to take his sunshine - the happiness and light she brings him
My sunshine away
(shine away)
The singer again emphasizes the importance of the girl's presence in his life and how he cannot deal with her absence
You told me once, dear
That you really loved me
And no one else
Could ever come between, yeah
Recalling a moment the girl expressed her love for him, the singer remembers how she once promised that no one else would come between them
But now you left me and you love another, yeah
And you have shattered, oh yeah
All of my dreams
However, things have changed, and the singer laments that the girl has left him for another person, ruining his hopes and dreams of being with her
Whoah you are my sunshine
(you are my sunshine)
Ohh, my only sunshine
(my only sunshine)
The singer firmly establishes how the girl is an essential component of his life, emphasizing her role as his only source of happiness
Whoa, you'll never never never know dear
(you'll never know, dear)
How much I love you
(how much I love you)
Reiterating the importance of the girl in his life, the singer voices his concern that the girl may not fully comprehend the extent of his love for her
Whoa, and I don't want you to take
(don't take my sunshine)
Whoa, if you love me
(don't take my sunshine)
Umm-hmm, if you need me
(don't take my sunshine)
Uh-huh if you want me
(don't take my sunshine)
Pleading with the girl, the singer repeatedly asks her not to take his sunshine away, outlining how her love, need, and want for him would mean she could stay
Waaaahh! Listen
(don't take my sunshine)
(don't take my sunshine)
Desperate not to lose her, the singer cries out repeatedly, asking the girl not to take away his sunshine
I don't want you to take
(don't take my sunshine)
Reiterating his love and dependence on the girl, the singer asks once more that she doesn't take his sunshine away
Whoah, my sunshine away
(shine away)
The song ends with the singer emphasizing how he cannot bear to be without the girl because of how much he values her presence in his life.
Contributed by Caden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gary Clark
I never thought I would ever say this about this song, but, this is great. Leave it to Leslie West to turn a corny old standard into an incredible, beautiful song. Wow!!!
Rick Kennedy
I agree, he has given this song a whole new level. Love this version.
Domenic Vitanza
Gorgeous rendition
Steven Pomeroy
I think there's a hit here. This song is getting awesome feedback from everyone I'm talking to. Come on DJs play it!!
nathan hustwick
so many tv series would die to have this epic in their soundtrack
Cly Soniko
Te aprecio mucho Leslie, has musicalizado varios momentos de mi vida. Espero estés bien. No dejes de tocar.
PAUL WISTRAND
love it
firefeem
Rest in peace Mr. West.
Nephi Fulton
Fucking beautiful!!! Makes me wanna do something evil
bill vander ploeg
Peter Frampton is playing guitar on this song