You Are My Sunshine

She was singing a lullaby to her niece.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear just how I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

"That's a very sad song to be singing to her," I said.

"What do you mean? I'm singing you are my sunshine, you make me happy."

"Yeah everyone thinks it's a happy song because everyone knows the chorus because it was in a TV commercial, but nobody knows the verses, about a guy pining over his lost love. Most people don't know that. Even the first verse."

The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you by my side

When I awoke dear, I was mistaken

And I hung my head and cried

"Oh."

"But then comes the chorus, the happy hot dog and mustard TV commercial part."

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear just how I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

"Oh," she replied, "Well now it sounds sad. Don't take my sunshine away?"

"Yeah and it gets worse. The next verse he talks about how she left him."

You once told me you'd always love me

And that no one could come between

And then you left me to love another

You shattered all my dreams

"Oh my."

"And then he gets downright bitter."

I'll always love you and make you happy

If you would only say the same

But if you leave me to love another

You will regret it all someday

"Aw."

"He's basically saying, straight up, you'll be sorry when I'm gone. But then it goes back to the happy verse."

You are my sunshine my only sunshine

You make me happy--

"Okay! Okay! Sheesh, I'll find a different lullaby to sing."

"Why? It's such a happy song. Catchy, too."