This song appears on twenty-one albums, and was first released on the Poems, Prayers and Promises album. This version has also been released on The Very Best of John Denver (Double CD), This Is John Denver, Reflections: Songs of Love and Life, The Country Roads Collection and The Rocky Mountain Collection albums. It has been rerecorded on the Greatest Hits Vol 1, Take Me Home Country Roads & Other Hits, Favourites, Voice of America, John Denver (Italian) and Country Classics. It has been rerecorded again on the Earth Songs, The Very Best of John Denver (Single CD), The John Denver Collection - Sunshine On My Shoulder and A Portrait albums, and again on the Love Again and A Celebration of Life albums. Live versions also appear on the Live In London, The Wildlife Concert and The Best of John Denver Live albums.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always

Words by John Denver, Music by John Denver, Dick Kniss and Mike Taylor