Sunshine, go away today
I don't feel much like dancing
Some man's gone, he tried to run my life
He don't know what he's asking
Well, he tells me I better get in line
I can't hear what he's saying
When I grow up, I'm gonna make it mine
These ain't dues that I've been paying

How much does it cost?
I'll buy it
The time is all we've lost
I'll try it
He can't even run his own life
Be damned if he'll run mine

How much does it cost?
I'll buy it
The time is all we've lost
I'll try it
He can't even run his own life
Be damned if he'll run mine

Working starts to make me wonder where
All that I do is going
He says, "in love and war, all is fair"
He's got cards that he ain't showing

How much does it cost?
I'll buy it
Time is all we've lost
I'll try it
He can't even run his own life
Be damned if he'll run mine

Sunshine, come on back another day
I promise you, I'll be singing
This old world, she's gonna turn around
Brand new bells will be ringing


Lyrics submitted by dsfire

Sunshine [Bluegrass Version] Lyrics as written by Jonathan Edwards

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Sunshine song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    Like most of the songs on Jonathan Edwards, "Sunshine" was written shortly after Jonathan left the band. "I felt really fresh, really liberated", he recalls. "I just went out in the woods every day with my bottle of wine and guitar, sat by a lake near Boston and wrote down all those tunes, day after day".

    "Sunshine" was an energetic, happy-sounding statement of protest and independence. "It was just at the time of the Vietnam War and Nixon", Jonathan recalls. "It was looking bad out there. That song meant a lot to a lot of people during that time--especially me". It started on a Boston radio station, and before long it hit the top five on the national charts. It earned him a gold record in 1971.

    jingy23on September 09, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I always understood this song to be an anti-war, anti-military protest song. The issue about the man not being able to run his own life, MILITARY. The line of "how much does it cost, I'll buy it" referring to buying a person's freedom from the military. "Telling me I better get in line" pure reference to the formation - daily event. Not wanting to dance - marching. I may be wrong - but those are the symbols I see in this song to this day.

    nrwilkinsonon November 13, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    dsfire, thanks again. This song was popular at a restaurant where I worked for minimum wages. Regards, stringofpearls.

    stringofpearlson February 07, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    From what I can tell, the "man" who has come is the government who is taxing his work and telling him what to do. He wants to know where all that money is going. He notes ironically that the government can't even manage its own affairs, yet it seems to think that it can spend his money better than he can.

    Garthnakon June 04, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "Sunshine" is the feeling one gets from true freedom. "Some man" is THE MAN... the government AND the establishment. He takes control of your life, taxes (robs) most of your income, then uses marketing gimmicks to suck up the rest. Furhtermore, he drafts you and your children into foolish wars! The system sucks. Nothing satisfies anymore, because you're NOT free. The sunshine is gone... until the Promised Day comes!

    RayManon May 31, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Whoa, I always thought this was a James Taylor song! God bless the internet...

    pentinon April 29, 2008   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion

    IMO: it's a defiance and an anti-establishment song, in whichever form establishment takes. According to the comments made by jingy23on September 09, 2007 & nrwilkinsonon on November 12, 2010, I read such aspects as: 1) not wanting to conform (to his band); and 2) not want to fight in war/join the military. The lines "Working starts to make me wonder where fruits of what I do are going" is relevant for just about any bored student and/or employee. And then there are the lines "When he says in love and war all is fair, he's got cards he ain't showing". Perhaps, on a more personal level to him, recording/music industry and/or band members cheating him. The defiance becomes inspiration in the lines. And in the simple word "Sunshine". Great song!

    joedinbjaron December 05, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I always thought that the song was about rejecting the notion that the government should be telling you what to do..."He (Government) can't even run his own life, I'll be damned if He'll run mine"..."Some man's (agent of the Government) come he's trying to run my life, don't know what he's asking". His goal is freedom from the totalitarian government the we've allowed to run our lives.

    NukeEmon July 08, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Jonathan Edwards is undeniably one of the most underrated musicians ever. His voice, guitar playing and songwriting is incredible. The man has not been given his dues. Buy his CD's and go see him live while you still can. You will not be disappointed. Great song BTW!

    The_Roveron April 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I can SO see this being a song about heroin; easily.

    erasethepaston September 06, 2007   Link

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