Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. was born in 1939 to Marvin Gay, Sr. and Alberta Gay in Washington, D.C.. Gaye began his career in Motown in 1958, and soon became Motown's top solo male artist. He scored numerous hits during the 1960s, among them "Ain't That Peculiar", "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", as well as several hit duets with Tammi Terrell, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"" and "You're All I Need to Get By", before moving on to his own form of musical self-expression.
Along with Stevie Wonder, Gaye is notable for fighting the hit-making—but creatively restrictive—Motown record-making process, in which performers, songwriters and record producers were generally kept in separate camps. Gaye forced Motown to release his 1971 album What's Going On, which is today hailed as one of the best albums of all time. Subsequent releases proved that Gaye, who had been a part-time songwriter for Motown artists during his early years with the label, could write and produce his own singles without having to rely on the Motown system. This achievement would pave the way for the successes of later self-sufficient singer-songwriter-producers in African American music, such as Luther Vandross and Babyface.
During the 1970s, Gaye would release several other notable albums, including Let's Get It On and I Want You, and released several successful singles such as "Come Get to This", "Got to Give It Up" and "Sexual Healing". By the time of his shooting death in 1984, at the hands of his clergyman father, Gaye had become one of the most influential artists of the soul music era.
You Are My Sunshine
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dreamed I held you held you in my arms
But when I woke up this morning
I found out I was mistaken
Do you know that I hung my
Hung my head and I, yes baby I cried
You are my sunshine (You are my sunshine)
I believe you make me happy
(You make me happy) when my skies are grey
(When skies are grey)
Sugar you'll never know
(You'll never know, dear)
Just how much I love you
(How much I love you)
And I don't want you to take
(Don't take my sunshine) my sunshine away
(Shine away)
I wanna say right here
That you're my sunshine
(You are my sunshine) yeah my only sunshine
(My only sunshine) i said you make me happy
(You make me happy) when my skies are grey
(When skies are grey)
Sugar you'll never know
(You'll never know, dear)
Just how much I love you
(How much I love you)
I don't want you to take
(Don't take my sunshine)
I don't want you to take
(Don't take my sunshine) no, no, I love her
(Don't take my sunshine)
I don't want you to take
(Don't take my sunshine)
Take my sunshine away (Shine away)
No, not this morning
In "You Are My Sunshine," Marvin Gaye expresses the depth of his love and devotion to someone who brings light and happiness into his life. The song begins with him recounting a dream where he held this person in his arms, but upon waking up, he realizes it was only a dream. This revelation brings disappointment and sadness, leading him to hang his head and cry. It highlights the impact the person has on his emotions and the longing he feels when they are not there.
The chorus repeats the phrase "You are my sunshine," emphasizing the significance of this person in Gaye's life. They are portrayed as the source of his happiness, particularly when his world is cloudy or filled with darkness (represented by "skies are grey"). Gaye wants them to understand just how much he loves them, and he pleads with them not to take away his sunshine, implying that their presence is essential to his well-being.
In the second verse, Gaye reiterates that the person he is addressing is his sunshine. He acknowledges that they make him happy when his skies are grey, emphasizing their ability to bring light and joy into his life even during difficult times. Gaye expresses his love and desire for this person, stating that he does not want them to take away his sunshine. The repetition and insistence emphasize the depth of his feelings and his fear of losing them.
The song concludes with Gaye reaffirming his plea to not have his sunshine taken away. He declares his love for this person and his determination to hold onto the happiness and light they bring, particularly on this morning. This final plea represents a desperate need for their continued presence and suggests that without them, his world would be darker and devoid of joy. Overall, "You Are My Sunshine" is a heartfelt expression of love and the importance of someone's presence in bringing happiness and light into one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
The other night as I lay sleeping, yeah
During the previous night while I was in a state of sleep
I dreamed I held you held you in my arms
In my dream, I experienced the sensation of embracing you closely
But when I woke up this morning
However, upon awakening in the morning
I found out I was mistaken
I realized that my dream was not a reflection of reality
Do you know that I hung my
I want to convey that I experienced a feeling of disappointment
Hung my head and I, yes baby I cried
Expressing my emotion of sorrow, resulting in shedding tears
You are my sunshine (You are my sunshine)
You hold the utmost significance in my life (You hold the utmost significance in my life)
Ohh, my only sunshine (My only sunshine)
You are the sole source of light and happiness in my existence (You are the sole source of light and happiness in my existence)
I believe you make me happy
I have a strong belief that you bring joy and contentment into my life
(You make me happy) when my skies are grey
(You make me happy) during times when I am confronted with gloomy circumstances
Sugar you'll never know
My dear, you will never fully comprehend
(You'll never know, dear)
(You'll never know, dear)
Just how much I love you
The intensity of my love for you is immeasurable
(How much I love you)
(How much I love you)
And I don't want you to take
In addition, I do not wish for you to seize
(Don't take my sunshine) my sunshine away
(Don't take my source of happiness) to be removed
I wanna say right here
I desire to express emphatically at this very moment
That you're my sunshine
That you possess the ability to bring light and joy into my life
(You are my sunshine) yeah my only sunshine
(You are my primary source of happiness) indeed my sole source
(My only sunshine) i said you make me happy
(My sole source of happiness) I affirm that you bring me joy
(You make me happy) when my skies are grey
(You make me happy) during times when I am confronted with gloomy circumstances
Sugar you'll never know
My dear, you will never fully comprehend
(You'll never know, dear)
(You'll never know, dear)
Just how much I love you
The intensity of my love for you is immeasurable
(How much I love you)
(How much I love you)
I don't want you to take
I do not desire for you to seize
(Don't take my sunshine)
(Don't take my source of happiness)
I don't want you to take
I do not wish for you to remove
(Don't take my sunshine) no, no, I love her
(Don't take my source of happiness) no, no, I deeply adore her
(Don't take my sunshine)
(Don't take my source of happiness)
I don't want you to take
I do not wish for you to seize
(Don't take my sunshine)
(Don't take my source of happiness)
Take my sunshine away (Shine away)
Remove my source of happiness (Disappear)
No, not this morning
Absolutely not on this particular morning
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
timmy841212
Marvin Gaye was a great live performer contrary to popular belief! lol :) Love his version of "You Are My Sunshine".
MotownMaster
nice live cut, thanks for posting, its just too bad all those early "Live On Stage" LP's are so badly edited, 2 of the tracks from the Mary Wells Live On Stage Lp werent even live, but this is a magical piece of history
NkrumahTure
This was the only album that Marvin made that I hadn't listened to, until now. This is a very rare LP, thank you for posting it.
Patricia A Peoples
I realize it's been awhile since you two put this up, but I'd love to know what the general response was when you did ? Who did the people pick ?
bjc19199
i thought ray charles was the only one who could sing this.
An Uncolonized Mind
Wow
dreaaaxx V
This song was featured in the one that got away
93033 x
goddam. <3
john5443
The King is Ray Charles :)
Vincent50
I wonder if the Vandellas are backing Marvin up on this song for I Think this was taken from the Motortown tours of the early 60s.