Just by listening to John Denver’s “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” it’s easy to see why so many people loved him and his music. The song was first part of his fourth studio album, Poems, Prayers & Promises, which came out in 1971.
But as Denver grew popular with his heartfelt songs about enjoying life’s simple pleasures, the track was released as a single two years later. It quickly became a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song gained even more attention when it was featured in a TV movie called Sunshine, which told the story of a brave woman battling cancer.
>>READ ALSO: John Denver Wrote “Annie’s Song” in Just 10 Minutes
The Story Behind the Song
John Denver shared that he wrote the song on a gloomy spring day in Minnesota. The weather was cold and slushy, with rain falling and snow slowly melting. Sitting indoors, Denver longed to spend more time outside and remembered how something as simple as sunshine could brighten his mood.
With these feelings, Denver tried to write a sad song. “I was so down I wanted to write a feeling-blue song,” he explained. But instead, he ended up writing a warm and uplifting tune. The song celebrates life’s small joys and reminds us to feel grateful for even the simplest things, like the sun shining on us.
Interestingly, the album version of the song includes an extra verse that wasn’t part of the single due to time constraints. In this verse, Denver reflects on having a story to tell and a wish to make. This full-length version can be found on many of John Denver’s greatest hits collections.
Take a moment to enjoy the beauty of “Sunshine on My Shoulders” by John Denver below.
