Sunshine in My Soul Lyrics Eliza E. Hewitt, 1887
4 verses and a refrain, public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. There is sunshine in my soul to-day,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky;
For Jesus is my light.
Refrain Oh, there’s sunshine, blessèd sunshine,
When the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling face,
There is sunshine in my soul.
Verse 2. There is music in my soul to-day,
A carol to my King;
And Jesus, listening, can hear
The songs I cannot sing.
Verse 3. There is springtime in my soul to-day;
For, when the Lord is near,
The dove of peace sings in my heart,
The flowers of grace appear.
Verse 4. There is gladness in my soul to-day,
And hope, and praise, and love;
For blessings which He gives me now,
For joys laid up above.
Sing the refrain after every verse.
Words copied from Sacred Songs and Solos: Twelve Hundred Hymns (1921). They were published in 1887, so they are in the public domain in the United States, and your church may print them, show them and sing them without a license.
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The story behind Sunshine in My Soul
Eliza Hewitt was born in Philadelphia in 1851 and became a teacher. A spinal illness ended her teaching and kept her at home for many years. During her recovery she studied English literature, and she wanted to help her church, so she began writing verses for its primary department. John Sweney, who had been the church's chorister, noticed some of the poems. Hymnary.org dates this hymn to 1887 and names Glad Hallelujahs, edited by William Kirkpatrick and John Sweney and published in Philadelphia by Thomas Tasker, as its first printing. Sweney composed the tune, which carries the name SUNSHINE. He was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, led the band of the Third Delaware Regiment in the Civil War, and later directed music for the large Sunday school at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, where John Wanamaker was superintendent. He edited or co-edited about sixty song collections. The Hymnology Archive says the hymn circled the globe and came back to Hewitt with many stories of how it had been used. Hymnary.org lists Psalm 16:11, John 8:12 and 2 Corinthians 4:6 among the Scripture it echoes. The Baptist Hymnal 1991 prints it in A flat. Hewitt also wrote More About Jesus and Will There Be Any Stars.
Eliza E. Hewitt
1851-06-28 to 1920-04-24
Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was born in Philadelphia and became a teacher after high school. A spinal illness ended her teaching and kept her at home for many years. During her recovery she studied English literature and began writing verses for the primary department of her church. John Sweney noticed her poems. She later taught Sunday school, served in the Philadelphia Elementary Union and became superintendent of the primary department at Calvin Presbyterian Church. She also published under the name Lidie H. Edmunds. Her texts include Sunshine in My Soul, More About Jesus, Will There Be Any Stars and When We All Get to Heaven.
John R. Sweney
1837 to 1899-04-10
John Robson Sweney was born at West Chester, Pennsylvania. At 19 he studied with a German teacher and led a choir and glee club. He taught at a school in Dover, Delaware, and led the band of the Third Delaware Regiment in the Civil War. After the war he became professor of music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy. He began composing church music in 1871 and directed music for the large Sunday school at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, where John Wanamaker was superintendent. He edited or co-edited about sixty song collections, many with William Kirkpatrick. He composed the tune SUNSHINE. He died on 10 April 1899.
- Hymnary.org, Sunshine in the Soul , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnology Archive, Eliza Hewitt , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, John R. Sweney , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Baptist Hymnal 1991 No. 430 , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in Sunshine in My Soul
The Bible passages behind the words, with the verse of the hymn that draws on each.
- Psalm 16:11 In verse 11 of the hymn
- John 8:12 In verse 12 of the hymn
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 In verse 6 of the hymn
- Habakkuk 3:18 In verse 18 of the hymn
Sunshine in My Soul videos
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Sunshine In My Soul • Congregational Daniel Baptist, Congregation
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Sunshine in My Soul The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, Choir
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There Is Sunshine in My Soul - acapella hymn with lyrics John Rogers acapella Gospel Hymns, A cappella
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Sunshine in My Soul - piano instrumental hymn with lyrics Kaleb Brasee, Piano
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There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today | Hymn Music Video | The Good and the Beautiful The Good and the Beautiful Kids, Modern arrangement
Videos play from YouTube, and nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. A video may sing different verses from the ones printed on this page.
Print and project
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in A♭.
Questions people ask
Who wrote Sunshine in My Soul?
Eliza Hewitt wrote the words, and John Sweney composed the tune. Hymnary.org dates the hymn to 1887.
Where was Sunshine in My Soul first published?
Hymnary.org names Glad Hallelujahs, edited by William Kirkpatrick and John Sweney, published in Philadelphia in 1887.
Who was Eliza Hewitt?
She was a Philadelphia Sunday school teacher and primary department superintendent. A spinal illness ended her teaching, and she went on to write many hymn texts.
Is Sunshine in My Soul in the public domain?
The words are public domain in the United States. Hewitt's text was first published in 1887, and Sweney's tune dates from the same year.
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