Ain't No Sunshine
- Aaron Neville Lyrics

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness everyday
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away

I wonder this time where she's gone
I wonder if she's gone to stay

Cause ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home, anytime she goes away

I know, I know, I know [Repeats]
I know, I know

Hey I won't leave that young thing alone
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness every day

Cause ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away

I know, I know, I know [Repeats]
I know, I know

Hey I won't leave that young thing alone
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness every day

Cause ain't no sunshine when she's gone
This house just ain't no home,
Anytime she goes away

Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Aaron Neville's song "Ain't No Sunshine" express a feeling of loneliness and despair when the subject of the song is absent. The phrase "ain't no sunshine," suggests that the light and warmth of the sun is equivalent to the the woman's presence. The repeated phrase "anytime she goes away" emphasizes the deep sense of loss and hopelessness without her. The singer wonders where she has gone and if she will return, but he knows that in her absence his life is incomplete.

The lines "hey I won't leave that young thing alone," suggest a temptation to cheat or find someone else to fill the void left by the woman. However, the repetition of the phrase "only darkness everyday" reinforces the idea that no other person or thing can bring the same light and happiness to his life. The song's repetitive structure and simple lyrics capture the raw emotion of love and longing, making the listener empathize with the pain of being separated from a loved one.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Life is dark and gloomy when she's away

Only darkness everyday
There's no light or brightness in life without her

And she's always gone too long
Her absence always feels too long

Anytime she goes away
Whenever she leaves, life becomes unbearable

I wonder this time where she's gone
I'm unsure where she's gone this time

I wonder if she's gone to stay
I'm worried if she's left for good this time

And this house just ain't no home, anytime she goes away
Without her, even the house feels empty and lifeless

Hey I won't leave that young thing alone
I won't let her be on her own

I know, I know, I know [Repeats]
I understand the pain of her absence

This house just ain't no home
My home is only complete when she's with me

Anytime she goes away
Life becomes unbearable in her absence