Different artists have leaned into either the song's "sunny" or "shadowy" aspects: The 9 Best Versions of 'You Are My Sunshine' Ever Recorded

: Some researchers also attribute the song to Georgia songwriter Oliver Hood , who reportedly performed it at a convention in 1933. Thematic Duality: Upbeat vs. Grim

: It is widely believed that Paul Rice wrote the song in 1937 and later sold the rights to Davis for just $35 to pay his wife's hospital bills.