By Mike Sain't Louis · 19 Oct 2026

Sunshine, a lullaby of sun, moon and river

Mm-hmm, oh-oh, ah-ah, ee-ee, la-la. Sunshine is built on sounds before words, and that makes it very different from the rest of my planet. It's a song in English with almost no story, working more like a lullaby or a mantra than a narrative.

Each line pairs a vocalised syllable with an image from nature. The sun that gives warmth. The moon that lights the way. The river that flows fast. The heartbeat that leaves an echo. The whisper that falls softly. Five elements taking turns, changing order in each verse, like the pieces of a cot mobile turning slowly.

The chorus is even simpler: sunshine, moonlight, good night, heartbeat, whisper, and the river that never goes slow. I like the idea that everything moves at its own pace and you only have to let yourself be carried.

There's a little bridge that seems to me the heart of the song. Feel the breeze, watch the trees sway, and «set your mind at ease». It's almost a breathing instruction, the kind you get in a relaxation class.

And towards the end, the sun goes out, night falls, the stars look on and the music keeps playing. An unsettling expression appears, «end of days», which gives a touch of mystery to something so sweet. I read it as the end of an ordinary day, not as an apocalypse, but I like that the song leaves that ambiguity.

In a project full of ex-boyfriends, mothers-in-law and spite, Sunshine is a corner of calm. We need that too. Not everything has to be shouting and fans.

I'd put it on before sleep, with the light off, or on a long train journey looking out of the window. I dedicate it to anyone whose head is too full and who needs three minutes of nothing. Breathe and listen.

The full lyrics are below. Listen on Spotify

Lyrics · SUNSHINE

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, Sunshine, mm-hmm, feel the warmth,Oh-oh, oh-oh, Moonlight, oh-oh, lights the path,Ah-ah, ah-ah, River, ah-ah, flowing fast,Ee-ee, ee-ee, Heartbeat, ee-ee, echoes last,La-la, la-la, Whisper, la-la, softly cast.