My father served in the US Navy having graduated from the Naval
Academy in the early 50s.  I was born in the mid 50s as he held a
training position in Newport, Rhode Island.

He used to sing this song to me, only a few of whose words can I
remember.  It was to the tune of the Marine Hymn (From the halls of
Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli).  The words he sang were, more or
less:
"Good Morning Merry Sunshine,
How did you get up there?"

There was doubtless more, but I cannot remember.

I'd like to know the rest of the song, its history (if available), and
what connections it may have to the academy, the navy, or whatever. 
And of course I'd be glad to provide whatever background info may be
useful in providing clues.

Along those lines - he was born in New Orleans to a Jewish father and
Cajun mother, raised in Tennessee by his stepmother (both of his
birthparents had died before he was about six), became the debating
champ of the state of TN, was appointed to the academy, was a singer
in a group at the Academy and played the Trumpet.  In the service he
was a Navy fighter pilot and saw some action during the Korean war.

Hi steakchopcommando,

The song you remember is a traditional children's song "Good Morning
Merry Sunshine". Here are two examples of the lyrics, with minor
differences:

Good Morning, Merry Sunshine
http://www.mindspring.com/~jogt/sunshine.htm

KIDiddles: Song Lyrics: Good Morning Merry Sunshine
http://www.kididdles.com/mouseum/g018.html

The KIDiddles link is a 1998 arrangement by Terry Kluytmans. You can
download and play a MIDI file of his arrangement from that page.

The author of this song is listed as "Unknown".

"Good Morning Merry Sunshine" was released on a yellow 78rpm record,
possibly in the 1940's, on the "Toy Toon" label:

Toy Tune (Good Morning Merry Sunshine)
http://www.wfmu.org/MACrec/toytuneb.html

This song is recalled fondly by people who have written up their
childhood memories on the web. Although none of the following memoirs
places an exact date on the song, we can deduce from these accounts
that the song was popular from the 1930's to the 1950's:

Charles Palache - "Grannie & Grandpa"
http://simplethinking.com/cp/grandpa2.shtml

Newton NJ - A Personal Reminiscence from Mid Century
http://www.newtonnj.net/Pages/reminiscence.htm

Memories of ... a Child of the Depression
http://www.buffnet.net/~mewexler/wally3.htm

The following memoir includes another version of the words, and a
mention that the song was taught in school in North Dakota in the
1930's.

With Grandma, in Wheaton
http://singlesplus.net/grandmas.htm

I could find no suggestion that this song has any link to the Naval
Academy or to the Navy, and the song certainly predates your father's
naval service.

None of the sites above mentions the tune. However, the 1998 KIDiddles
arrangment does not use the Marines Hymn. I hope that one or more
commenters can tell us what tune they recall this song having from
their own childhood.

It's possible that using the "Marines Hymn" tune is a naval specialty
- the words can certainly be sung very effectively to that tune.


Google search strategy:

"good morning merry sunshine" "wake so soon"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22good+morning+merry+sunshine%22+%22wake+so+soon%22

"good morning merry sunshine" traditional
://www.google.com/search?q=%22good+morning+merry+sunshine%22+traditional

"toy toon" "merry sunshine"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22toy%20toon%22%20%22merry%20sunshine%22

"merry sunshine" "marines hymn"
://www.google.com/search?client=googlet&q=%22merry%20sunshine%22%20%22marines%20hymn%22


Regards,
eiffel-ga

Excellent attention to detail and thoroughness.  The only reason I did
not give five stars is because it seems there was no effort to track
down the lyrics as I remembered them (2nd line: "How did you get up
there?").  I, too, am aware of how to search the internet and was
aware of this other reading.  But then, I didn't mention that in my
question, so you wouldn't know.  So for a nice, professional answer, I
gladly give 4 stars with appreciation.