Vehicle cargo area lighting system and cargo area lighting method

A vehicle cargo area lighting system, comprising:

• a cover assembly movable back-and-forth between a closed position and an open position, the cover assembly covering a cargo area of a vehicle when the cover assembly is in the closed position, the cover assembly having a top portion and a wall portion, the wall portion extending vertically downward from the top portion when the cover assembly is in the closed position;
• and
• at least one cargo area light secured to an interior side of the wall portion, the cargo area light configured to illuminate the cargo area when the cover assembly is in the open position,
• wherein the at least one cargo area light is secured to the interior side of the wall portion from outside the cargo area.