The well-sung sun

Summer, Saturday, sitting and watching the sun rise. More accurately, watching the rising sun's extending reach, behind me and reaching over me, illuminate the valley in front of me. Like John Denver, I can feel the sunshine on my shoulders, but not in my eyes: "Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy, sunshine in my eyes can make me cry."

And with that thought my mind is racing over all the songs of sunshine that quickly come to mind. The obvious choices first:

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

   - George Harrison

And

Sun's up, uh huh, looks okay
The world survives into another day
And I'm thinking about eternity
Some kind of ecstasy got a hold on me

   - Bruce Cockburn

And

Sun is shinin' in the sky
There ain't a cloud in sight
It's stopped rainin', everybody's in the play
And don't you know, it's a beautiful new day, hey

Runnin' down the Avenue
See how the sun shines brightly
In the city on the streets where once was pity
Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey

   - Jeff Lynne 

And

When the sun falls
The bird of paradise
Spreads his wings wide

When the rain shines
The earth sighs gratitude
And spreads her hues bright

You come to me
Bringing the sun and rain
Bringing my song

   - Bruce Cockburn

And

Rising like lightspill from this sleeping town
Like the light in a lover's eyes
Rising from the hearts of the sleepers all around
All those dreamers trying to light the sky
Burning -- at the gates of dawn
Singing -- near and far
Singing -- to raise the morning star

   - Bruce Cockburn

And then to the less obvious, less direct:

All over Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales
I can hear the mothers' voices calling
"Children, children, come home children"

"Children, come home on the Celtic Ray"
In the early morning, we'll go walking
Where the light comes shining through
On the Celtic Ray

   - Van Morrison

And

Squeaky swings and tall grass
The longest shadows ever cast
The water's warm and children swim
And we frolicked about in our summer skin

    - Death Cab For Cutie

And

Get a load of the light in the trees
And the sweet decay on the maritime breeze
The sun's hitching on a weather balloon
And the heat off the tarmac
Burning a hole in a gold afternoon

   - Fountains of Wayne

And, because I like it best of all:

All the diamonds in this world
That mean anything to me
Are conjured up by wind and sunlight
Sparkling on the sea

   - Bruce Cockburn

The full soundtrack in my head this morning:

• George Harrison: Here Comes The Sun
• Bruce Cockburn: Wondering Where The Lions Are
• Jeff Lynne: Mr. Blue Sky
• Bruce Cockburn: When The Sun Falls
• Bruce Cockburn: To Raise The Morning Star
• Van Morrison: Celtic Ray
• Death Cab For Cutie: Summer Skin
• Fountains Of Wayne: A Dip In The Ocean
• Bruce Cockburn: All The Diamonds