Ain't No Sunshine
Achtabahn feat. Matt Andersen Lyrics

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away

Wonder this time where she's gone
Wonder if she's gone to stay

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone, only darkness everyday
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away

Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away

Overall Meaning

In "Ain't No Sunshine," the singer laments the absence of his love interest. The song emphasizes the emotional toll of separation and how her absence leaves him feeling cold and lonely. The repetitive lyrics, "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone," emphasize the profound sense of emptiness he feels when she's not around. The singer wonders where she's gone and if she'll ever return, highlighting his desperation and helplessness in the situation. He knows that he should leave her alone, but he can't bring himself to do so because of the overwhelming loneliness he feels in her absence. The song's simple, haunting melody perfectly captures the melancholic mood of the lyrics, and the sparse instrumentation showcases the emotional depth of the singer's pain.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
The feeling of joy and happiness fades away when she leaves.

It's not warm when she's away
The warmth and glow in life disappears when she is not around.

And she's always gone too long
The time she takes to come back after leaving seems like forever.

Anytime she goes away
Her absence creates a vacuum in life that cannot be filled by anything else.

Wonder this time where she's gone
The uncertainty of where she has gone makes everything even more difficult.

Wonder if she's gone to stay
The fear of losing her forever hangs like a heavy cloud over everything.

And this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away
The comfort and coziness that a home brings disappears when she is not there.

And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
The pain of her absence is felt so deeply, that it is impossible to ignore.

Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone
Despite the pain of her leaving, it is wise to let her be free and not cling to her.

But ain't no sunshine when she's gone, only darkness everyday
The gloom and sadness of her leaving overshadows everything and leaves only darkness behind.

And this house just ain't no home
The feeling of home disappears when she is away, rendering everything meaningless.

Anytime she goes away
Her leaving is unbearable and creates a void that cannot be filled by anything else.

Anytime she goes away
Her absence is so deeply felt that it needs to be repeated to emphasize the gravity of the situation.

Anytime she goes away
The repetition of her leaving highlights the pain and sadness it brings.

Writer(s): Bill Withers

Contributed by Jayden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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