A folky riff sets the mood: melancholic, but with hints of optimism. If you owned a radio in the 90s, you probably know exactly when the words kick in. After a few seconds, Shawn Colvin sweetly croons, Sunny came home to her favorite room / Sunny sat down in the kitchen.

The song was featured on the singer-songwriters fourth album, released in 1996, which earned her a Grammy in 1997. It tells the story of a woman whos resolved to seek revenge on someone whos spurned her. She carries out a deliberate plan, setting her own house on fire. Its a violent image, but the end of the song is hopeful: Shes out there on her own and shes alright / Sunny came home.

The imagery is expressive, but the literal meaning isnt clear. Why did Sunny come home with a list of names? Whose names? Whats in her box of tools? Whats her mission?

In a phone interview with The Huffington Post, Colvin said, You want to write a moving song, and something personal, but you want it to be well-crafted enough so people can project themselves into it. Thats what I always appreciated about my heroes. That their stories could be my story, too.

It makes sense, then, that Colvins most popular song was inspired by something abstract. The lyrics to Sunny Came Home didnt spawn from a specific fight or relationship but a folky, surreal painting that served as the cover of her album A Few Small Repairs.