Here Comes the Sun: Why We’ll Never Stop Writing Songs About Our Favorite Star

For as long as humanity has made music, we have looked up at the sky and written love letters to our nearest star. The sun is more than just a massive ball of burning plasma keeping our planet warm; it is a universal metaphor. It represents hope after a grueling winter, the passage of time, new beginnings, heartbreak, and pure, unfiltered joy.

From golden-era classic rock to soulful indie pop, artists across every genre have captured the shifting moods of daylight. If you are looking to build the ultimate sun-soaked playlist—or just want to explore how songwriters harness the power of daylight—here is a journey through some of the most memorable songs with “sun” in the title.

1. The Ultimate Anthem of Relief: “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles (1969)

It is impossible to talk about sun songs without bowing to George Harrison’s timeless masterpiece. Written in the garden of his friend Eric Clapton during what he described as a particularly dreary English winter—and during a stressful period away from Apple Corps business meetings—Harrison picked up an acoustic guitar and felt the literal and emotional weight lift off his shoulders.

With its bright, bouncing Moog synthesizer intro and cascading acoustic picking, “Here Comes the Sun” is the musical equivalent of clouds parting. Lines like “Little darling, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter” instantly connect with anyone who has endured a difficult season and finally glimpsed light at the end of the tunnel.

2. The Psychedelic Groove: “Sun King” by The Beatles (1969)

Proving that one Beatles album wasn’t enough to capture their solar fascination, Abbey Road also gifted us “Sun King.” Originally working-titled “Sun King’s Coming,” this lush, harmony-drenched track drifts in like a warm morning haze. Featuring gorgeous multi-tracked vocals from John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison singing in a dreamy, faux-Spanish outro, it captures the hypnotic, lazy warmth of basking in the afternoon heat without a single care in the world.

3. The Modern Indie-Pop Daydream: “Warm Foothills” / “Sun Models” / “Golden Light”

While classic rock laid the groundwork, modern alternative and indie artists have continually reinvented the sun song aesthetic. Think of tracks like “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves for pure, high-octane 1980s adrenaline, or transition into the breezy, acoustic textures of “Steal My Sunshine” by LEN, which instantly teleports listeners back to late-90s beach days and rolling car windows.

These songs share a common DNA: driving, infectious percussion and major-key chord progressions that trick our brains into feeling sun-drenched even if we are sitting indoors under fluorescent lights.

Why Do We Keep Writing About the Sun?

Psychologists and musicologists alike have noted that music in major keys naturally triggers feelings of uplift and safety—evolutionary traits tied to daylight. When night fell for our ancestors, danger lurked in the dark; sunrise meant survival, community, and productivity.

When songwriters put the “sun” in their titles, they are tapping into a deeply primal vocabulary. Whether a song is about:

• Resilience: Finding the strength to keep going when the world feels dark,
• Nostalgia: Remembering a childhood summer that felt like it lasted forever, or
• Romance: Comparing a lover’s warmth and radiance to the center of our solar system,

…the sun remains the ultimate lyrical canvas.

Build Your Ultimate “Sun” Playlist

Next time you are looking to curate a mood—whether you need a morning pick-me-up or a soundtrack for a sunset road trip—try queueing up these essential tracks:

1. “Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles
2. “Walking on Sunshine” – Katrina and the Waves
3. “Steal My Sunshine” – LEN
4. “Ain’t No Sunshine” – Bill Withers (for a moodier, soulful take on the absence of light)
5. “Sunshine” – Jonathan Edwards

The sun will always rise, and as long as it does, musicians will be right there with a guitar, a synthesizer, or a microphone, ready to sing its praises.