Music Often Puts Politicians in a Good Light

Cynics may claim that politics is more entertainment than substance. But the wisest and shrewdest of politicians have for decades used music to help win votes and gain popularity.

None did it better than James Houston Davis, better known as Jimmie Davis, who co-wrote and recorded what has become an American classic, “You Are My Sunshine.” Jimmie Davis recorded “You Are My Sunshine” in 1940 and it became an instant hit, although an earlier version he recorded in 1931 had failed to catch on. Later, Davis became known as the “singing governor” and often performed music during his campaign stops.

Davis served two terms as the governor of Louisiana (1944-1948 and 1960-1964) and while governor, had a No. 1 hit single in 1945 with “There’s a New Moon Over My Shoulder.” Jimmie Davis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971 and into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1972. In 1993, Davis was among the first inductees of the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, LA.

“You Are My Sunshine” was designated as official state song of Louisiana in 1977. Proving its universality, the song has been recorded hundreds of times by such diverse performers as Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Boxcar Willie, Gene Autry and Mose Allison.

The Davis musical formula was not lost on later political aspirants. Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) who had been beaten badly in the presidential race of 1960 (by John F. Kennedy) and again in 1962 in his attempt to become Governor of California, found a rebirth through music.

Just six months after his humiliating defeat in California, Nixon appeared on The Jack Paar Show, playing a song on piano that he had written himself. Miraculously, this was the beginning of one of the most remarkable comebacks in American political history. And of course Nixon became the 37th President of the United States, winning big in 1968.

More recently, William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton made a legendary appearance on MTV during his initial bid for the White House in 1992.

Clinton appeared on a “town hall-style” special in which he played the saxophone (and answered questions about his underwear!). He later credited the MTV appearance with helping energize young people about politics and went on to unseat Republican incumbent President George Bush in the general election, becoming the 42nd President of the United States and serving two terms.

Back in 1928, Alfred E. “Al” Smith ran for president using, “The Sidewalks of New York” as his campaign song. He was defeated in a landslide by Republican Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States.

And this: On Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008, former Arkansas governor (1996 to 2007) Mike Huckabee appeared on NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno, playing bass guitar on a blues song with bandleader Kevin Eubanks and the Tonight Show Band. The very next day, 2008 presidential candidate Huckabee WON the Iowa Republican caucus, an unlikely outcome just a few weeks earlier. Barack Obama won for the Democrats.

You Are My Sunshine Lyrics
(Words and Music by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell)

The other night dear as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
But when I awoke dear I was mistaken
So I hung my head and cried

(Chorus)

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy, when skies are gray
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away

(Chorus)

I’ll always love you and make you happy
If you will only say the same
But if you leave me to love another
You’ll regret it all the same

(Chorus)

You told me once dear, you really loved me
That no one else could come between
But now you’ve left me to love another
You have shattered all my dreams

(Chorus)