The lyric from Jimmie Davis's “You Are My Sunshine” ends with the word “away” in the line “Please don't take my sunshine away.”
The song was first recorded in 1939 and published in 1940. Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell received the publishing credit, although the song's authorship has long been disputed because earlier recordings existed.
“You Are My Sunshine” became strongly associated with Davis, who was also a country singer and governor of Louisiana. He used the song during his political campaigns, helping turn it into a widely recognized American standard.
Louisiana officially designated it the state song in 1977. The song has been recorded by hundreds of artists, including Johnny Cash, Gene Autry, and Ray Charles. It has also been translated into dozens of languages, so different performances may vary slightly in arrangement while retaining the familiar chorus.