Alan Lomax recorded the group in 1936 for the US Library of Congress, but the group made many more recordings over the next several decades. These include notable releases on Art Rupe's Specialty label, and some on former member Sam Cooke's SAR label in the early 1960's. Other former members include vocalists such as Johnnie Taylor,James Phelps, T.L. Bruster, Bob King and, briefly, Julius Cheeks.
They are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1989
One of the most popular and influential gospel groups of the 20th century, the Soul Stirrers were pioneers in the development of the quartet style of gospel and, without intending it, in the creation of soul music, the secular music that owed much to gospel.
The group was formed by Roy Crain, who had launched his first quartet, which sang in a jubilee style, in 1926 in Trinity, Texas. In the early 1930s, after Crain moved to Houston, he joined an existing group on the condition that it change its name to "the Soul Stirrers." Among the members of that group was R.H. Harris, who soon became its musical leader.
Harris, also from Trinity, Texas, brought several changes to the Soul Stirrers that affected gospel quartet singing generally. He used a falsetto style that had its antecedents in African music, but which was new to the popular jubilee singing style of the time. He pioneered the "swing lead", in which two singers would share the job of leading the song, allowing virtuoso singers to increase the emotional intensity of the song as the lead passed between them. That innovation led the Soul Stirrers, while still called a quartet, to acquire five members; later groups would have as many as seven but still consider themselves "quartets", which referred more to their style than their number.
The Soul Stirrers made other important changes in those years: ad-libbing lyrics, singing in delayed time, and repeating words in the background as both a rhythmic and emotional support for the lead singers. The Soul Stirrers dropped the "flatfooted" style of jubilee quartets before them and expanded their repertoire from spirituals and traditional hymns to the newer gospel compositions. The group also loosened the rigid arrangements that jubilee quartets had favored to permit individual singers within the group more space for individual development.
In 1936 Alan Lomax recorded the Soul Stirrers for the Library of Congress's American music project. They later moved to Chicago, where they broadcast a weekly radio show. Their nationwide touring gained them an even larger audience, as they delivered the emotional fervor that popular jubilee groups, such as the Golden Gate Quartet, did not.
The Soul Stirrers signed with Specialty Records, where they recorded a number of tracks, including "By and By" and "In that Awful Hour". Harris, the most popular member of the group, soon quit, however, in order to form a new group. He was replaced by the then-unknown Sam Cooke.
One of the first singles with Cooke was "Jesus Gave Me Water", a major hit that brought the Soul Stirrers massive acclaim. Thomas L. Breuster was replaced by Bob King and, briefly, Julius Cheeks. When Cooke left in 1957 to pursue a career in pop music, the Soul Stirrers' preeminence in gospel was essentially over, though a brief period of success with Johnnie Taylor sustained the group for a time. Various line-ups continued touring and recording throughout the last half of the century to a small and devoted following. The group — and all of its members — was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 as one of rock's Early Influences, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
Hello Sunshine
The Soul Stirrers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello sunshine!
Will old darkness be my friend?
Hello sunshine!
To this you can put an end
Hello sunshine!
Why don't you please come around
Hey there sunshine!
Don't let me down
Hey there sunshine!
Please come around
Hey there sunshine!
My friend!
Hey hey hey! Hey hey hey! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! [Repeat: x1]
Hello dark clouds
I don't want you round no more
Hello tear drops
Why don't you stay from my door
Hello troubles
I can't stand your face for sure
[Bridge]
Hey there sunshine!
Don't let me down
Hey there sunshine!
Please come around
Hey there sunshine!
My friend!
Hey hey hey! Hey hey hey! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! [Repeat: x2]
[Chorus]
Hello sunshine!
Will old darkness be my friend?
Hello sunshine!
To this you can put an end
Hello sunshine!
Why don't you please come around
[Bridge]
Hey there sunshine!
Don't let me down
Hey there sunshine!
Please come around
Hey there sunshine!
My friend!
Hey hey hey! Hey hey hey!
Oh yeah! Hello sunshine!
Sunshine, I need you! Hey hey hey!
I've gotta help you - hello sunshine!
When I'm down now. Hey hey hey!
Said I need you! Hello sunshine!
Please come around now! Hey hey hey!
The Soul Stirrers' song Hello Sunshine is a plea to the sun to come out and banish the darkness that is plaguing the singer's life. The chorus begins with "Hello sunshine", which is a greeting directed to the sun, asking if it can end the singer's relationship with darkness. The darkness referred to here is likely a metaphorical representation of depression, anxiety or any other mental health issue. The singer is asking if the sun can be their friend and banish the darkness from their life. The tone of the chorus is upbeat and optimistic, which is a stark contrast to the verses that follow. In the verses, the singer addresses the darkness, tears and troubles that have been plaguing their life. The phrases "Hello dark clouds", "Hello tear drops" and "Hello troubles" all address the negative emotions that the singer is facing. The contrast between the optimistic chorus and the dark and pessimistic verses emphasizes the singer's desperation for a change in their life.
The bridge repeats the request for the sun to come around, emphasizing how much the singer needs it in their life. The use of the word "friend" in the bridge creates a bond between the singer and the sun, highlighting the intimacy of the relationship they desire. The repetition of the phrase "hey hey hey" and "oh yeah" adds to the groove and upbeat nature of the song, despite the desperate nature of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello sunshine!
The singer greets the arrival of sunshine, which serves as a symbol of hope and positivity.
Will old darkness be my friend?
The singer questions whether their previous depression and negative emotions will return to haunt them.
To this you can put an end
The singer believes that the arrival of sunshine can put an end to their feelings of depression and negativity.
Why don't you please come around
The singer pleads for the arrival of sunshine to lift their spirits.
Hey there sunshine!
The singer addresses the concept of sunshine once again, emphasizing its importance.
Don't let me down
The singer hopes that the arrival of sunshine will not disappoint them.
Please come around
The singer urges the arrival of sunshine to lift their spirits and bring positivity.
My friend!
The singer considers sunshine to be a friend or ally in their quest for happiness and positivity.
Hello dark clouds
The singer confronts the presence of dark clouds, which symbolize negative emotions and hardship.
I don't want you round no more
The singer expresses a desire to be free of the negative emotions represented by dark clouds.
Hello tear drops
The singer acknowledges the presence of tears, which also symbolize sadness and hardship.
Why don't you stay from my door
The singer pleads for an end to the tears and sadness that have been afflicting them.
Hello troubles
The singer confronts their problems and difficulties head-on.
I can't stand your face for sure
The singer expresses a strong negative sentiment towards their problems and difficulties.
Oh yeah! Hello sunshine!
The singer expresses excitement and joy at the arrival of sunshine, which serves as a beacon of hope.
Sunshine, I need you! Hey hey hey!
The singer expresses a strong need for the presence of sunshine to lift their spirits and combat their negative emotions.
I've gotta help you - hello sunshine!
The singer resolves to take action to bring sunshine into their life and improve their emotional state.
When I'm down now. Hey hey hey!
The singer acknowledges that they experience periods of sadness and grief, but urges the arrival of sunshine to lift them up.
Said I need you! Hello sunshine!
The singer reiterates their need for the presence of sunshine in their life to combat their negative emotions.
Please come around now! Hey hey hey!
The singer urgently pleads for the arrival of sunshine to lift their spirits and bring positivity.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimmy Cliff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind