The ‘sunshine song’: The biography of an Australian Imperial Force (AIF) soldiers’ chorus

Abstract

The deep links between music and war demonstrate the centrality of music in wartime. However, most soldier compositions are ephemeral, lost because of their topicality and limited circulation. This article explores the history and significance of the ‘Sunshine Song’, a popular chorus with Australians in World War I. It further distinguished itself by making the transition to the civilian repertoire, something few war songs accomplished, remaining in circulation until at least the mid-1960s. This article offers an analysis of its merits, and its place in history as a rare surviving successful Australian wartime chorus.