The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

I'll always love you and make you happy,
If you will only say the same.
But if you leave me and love another,
You'll regret it all some day:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

You told me once, dear, you really loved me
And no one else could come between.
But now you've left me and love another;
You have shattered all of my dreams:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

In all my dreams, dear, you seem to leave me
When I awake my poor heart pains.
So when you come back and make me happy
I'll forgive you dear, I'll take all the blame.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGa3zFRqDn4

It's amazing the strength a simple song like this can have. From the calm, raspy croon of Johnny Cash to the loving message behind the lyrics: I adore absolutely everything about this version of this wonderful song.

I am now 19 years old. For as long as I can remember, my mom would sing this song to my older brother and I when putting us to bed or when we didn't feel well. Even as a young child, I could hear the sincerity in her voice as she sang to me. I knew that she legitimately didn't want me to be taken from her in any sense. I imagine that this song crosses her mind when she sees me pull out of the driveway to come back to school every weekend.

Just a few weeks ago, I was in the library here on campus and decided to listen to this song. Almost immediately, I could feel my throat getting tight and my eyes welling up with tears. I really can't explain what I was feeling in that moment, though. I literally don't remember what I was feeling...how odd is that? I just think back to the times when I would spend every day at home with my mom and she would spend hours singing to me: telling me that I'm her sunshine and didn't want me to be taken away or about the all the pretty little horses.

Again, it's absolutely baffling the immense meaning that something as small as a song can mean to someone. I will forever cherish the times of getting to hear my momma sing me to sleep while she rubbed my back because that was the only way I could fall asleep.

These are precious memories.