The lyrics to "Sunshine in My Soul" were written in 1887 by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt. Hewitt was inspired to write the poem following a walk in the park after having been confined to a cast for six months due to a severe back injury. The injury ended her career as a teacher and she spent the rest of her life writing hymns, over 1700 in all. Her hymns which have survived include "Stepping In The Light," "When We All Get To Heaven," "Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?" "More About Jesus," and "My Faith Has Found A Resting Place,"
John R. Sweney, a musician from childhood, wrote the music to this and over 1000 more hymn tunes. In the American civil war, he directed the band for the Third Delaware Regiment. Later he served as Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy in West Chester, Pennsylvania for more than 25 years.