“Walking on Sunshine” is a happy song by the British rock band Katrina and the Waves. It was written by Kimberley Rew for their first album in 1983. They re-recorded it for their 1985 album, where it became a big hit, reaching No. 4 in Australia, No. 9 in the United States, and No. 8 in the United Kingdom. It was their first top 40 hit in America and one of their biggest successes in the UK until “Love Shine a Light” in 1997.
Feeling “walking on air” means you’re feeling good, but feeling “walking on sunshine” is even better. The song reflects Katrina’s pure joy because she’s confident that her man loves her. Despite their long-distance relationship, she’s optimistic that one day he’ll show up at her door, and they’ll live happily ever after.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the lyrics and what they mean.
“Walking on Sunshine” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I used to think maybe you loved me, now, baby, I’m sure
And I just can’t wait till the day when you knock on my door
Now every time I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down
‘Cause I just can’t wait till you write me you’re coming around
Verse 1 of “Walking on Sunshine” describes Katrina’s anticipation and excitement about her partner’s return. Initially, Katrina had doubts about her partner’s feelings for her, but now she’s confident that they truly love her, as she sings, “I used to think maybe you loved me, now, baby, I’m sure.”
Katrina eagerly anticipates the moment her partner returns and surprises her by knocking on her door, singing, “And I just can’t wait till the day when you knock on my door”
Katrina feels so excited that whenever she goes to check the mailbox, she struggles to contain her emotions, as she sings, “Now every time I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down”
She’s eagerly awaiting a letter or message from her partner confirming their visit or return, as expressed in the line “‘Cause I just can’t wait till you write me you’re coming around.”
[Chorus]
Now I’m walking on sunshine, whoa
I’m walking on sunshine, whoa
I’m walking on sunshine, whoa
And don’t it feel good?
Hey, all right now
And don’t it feel good?
Hey, yeah
In the Chorus, Katrina starts with the lines, “Now I’m walking on sunshine, whoa I’m walking on sunshine, whoa I’m walking on sunshine, whoa,” to express her feeling of joy and contentment. She feels like she’s walking on sunshine, which symbolizes her overwhelming happiness.
The line “And don’t it feel good?” is a rhetorical question that reinforces Katrina’s positive emotions. She’s expressing how wonderful it feels to be in love and to have her feelings reciprocated.
The phrase “Hey, all right now” adds to the upbeat and celebratory tone of the chorus. It means everything is going well for Katrina and she’s enjoying the moment.
[Verse 2]
I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it’s true
And I don’t want to spend my whole life just a-waiting for you
Now, I don’t want you back for the weekend, not back for a day, no, no, no
I said, baby, I just want you back, and I want you to stay
In Verse 2, Katrina reflects on her past doubts about her partner’s love, but now she’s certain that their love is genuine and true. She sings, “I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it’s true.”
She expresses her desire to move beyond waiting and uncertainty, as evident in the line “And I don’t want to spend my whole life just a-waiting for you.”
Katrina clarifies that she doesn’t want a temporary reunion; she desires a lasting commitment from her partner, as she sings, “Now, I don’t want you back for the weekend, not back for a day, no, no, no”
In the line “I said, baby, I just want you back, and I want you to stay,” she directly communicates her longing for her partner to return and stay with her permanently.
[Bridge]
Walking on sunshine
Walking on sunshine
I feel alive, I feel the love, I feel the love that’s really real
I feel alive, I feel the love, I feel the love that’s really real
I’m on sunshine, baby, oh
Oh, yeah, I’m on sunshine, baby
Ow!
In the bridge section, the repeated lines “Walking on sunshine Walking on sunshine” emphasize Katrina’s feeling of euphoria and elation. The metaphor of “walking on sunshine” symbolizes her overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment.
In the lines “I feel alive, I feel the love, I feel the love that’s really real,” Katrina expresses a deep sense of vitality and connection. She feels truly alive and experiences a profound sense of love that she recognizes as genuine and authentic.
She feels as if she’s basking in the warmth and brightness of sunshine, which represents her overwhelming joy and happiness. She sings, “I’m on sunshine, baby, oh Oh, yeah, I’m on sunshine, baby.”
[Outro]
I’m walking on sunshine, whoa
I’m walking on sunshine, whoa
I’m walking on sunshine, whoa
And don’t it feel good?
Hey, all right now
And don’t it feel good?
I say it, I say it, I say it again, now
And don’t it feel good?
Hey, yeah, now
And don’t it feel good?
And don’t it, don’t it, don’t it, don’t it, don’t it, and don’t it feel good?
I say it, I say it, I say it again, now
And don’t it feel good?
And don’t it, don’t it, don’t it, don’t it, don’t it, and don’t it feel good?
And tell me, tell me, tell me it again now
And don’t it feel good?
Hooh, yeah now
And don’t it feel good?
And don’t it, don’t it, don’t it, don’t it, don’t it, and don’t it feel good?
Hooh-yeah, hooh-yeah, hooh-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
In the outro section, the repeated lines “I’m walking on sunshine, whoa I’m walking on sunshine, whoa I’m walking on sunshine, whoa” reinforce the idea that Katrina is still basking in the glow of her positive emotions.
The phrase “Hey, all right now” adds a sense of exuberance and excitement to the outro, suggesting that everything is going well and that she’s in a great place emotionally.
In the line “I say it, I say it, I say it again, now,” the repetition of “I say it” underscores her need to convey just how good she feels.
Katrina expresses a desire to hear affirmations of her happiness repeated, suggesting that she wants to relish and reaffirm her positive emotions. She sings, “And tell me, tell me, tell me it again now.”
Deeper Meaning Behind “Walking on Sunshine”
The song “Walking on Sunshine” uses the metaphor of walking on sunshine to symbolize the overwhelming sense of happiness, positivity, and elation that the singer, Katrina, is experiencing.
In the lyrics, Katrina expresses her certainty in her partner’s love, transitioning from initial doubts to unwavering confidence. The lyrics depict her anticipation of her partner’s return and the overwhelming joy she feels at the prospect of being reunited, as expressed in the lines, “I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it’s true, And I don’t want to spend my whole life just a-waiting for you.”
Beyond just romantic love, “Walking on Sunshine” embodies a broader sentiment of embracing life’s moments of happiness and seizing the opportunity to revel in them fully.
“Walking on Sunshine” was written by the band’s guitarist, Kimberley Rew. In 2015, he told The Guardian that the song isn’t tied to any major life event. He said:
“I’d love to say Walking on Sunshine relates to a significant event in my life, like walking out of my front door, seeing a comet and being inspired. But it’s just a piece of simple fun, an optimistic song, despite us not being outstandingly cheery people. We were a typical young band, insecure and pessimistic. We didn’t have big hair and didn’t look anything like a Motown-influenced group. We didn’t have any credibility or a fanbase in awe of our mystique. We were a second-on-the-bill-at-a-festival-in-Germany pop band. But we had this song.”
Ultimately, “Walking on Sunshine” is a timeless anthem of happiness, radiating infectious energy and encouraging listeners to embrace life with optimism, love, and unbridled joy.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.