Ain't No Sunshine
Appleton Lyrics


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

Wonder this time where he's gone
Wonder if he's gone to stay
Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime he 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...
Mmmm

Oooh- hey, you gotta leave this young thing alone
Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
Only darkness every day

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

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





Anytime he goes away
Anytime he goes away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Appleton's song Ain't No Sunshine are a powerful reflection on the emptiness and sadness that comes with the absence of a loved one. The repeated phrase "Ain't no sunshine when he's gone" taps into a universal feeling of darkness and despair that can overwhelm us when someone we care about leaves our lives.


The singer talks about feeling the absence of the person they love in a very real and tangible way. It's not just an emotional void, but a physical one too. They talk about how the warmth is gone when he's away, and how the house feels empty and lonely. There's a sense of longing and uncertainty in lines like "Wonder this time where he's gone, wonder if he's gone to stay."


The singer is clearly in pain, but there's a hint of anger and frustration in the lyrics too. They say "you gotta leave this young thing alone" - suggesting that the person they love might have left for someone else. This adds another layer of complexity to the song, as the singer grapples with the sadness of losing someone they love, but also the anger and jealousy that can come with that loss.


Overall, Ain't No Sunshine is a powerful and emotional song that captures the universal experience of missing someone we love very deeply.


Line by Line Meaning

Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
The happiness and warmth in my life are gone when he's not around


It's not warm when he's away
The happiness and comfort in my life is absent when he's not around


And he's always gone too long
He seems to be away for an excessive amount of time which leaves me sad and lonely


Anytime he goes away
Every time he leaves, my emotional state is affected


Wonder this time where he's gone
I am uncertain of where he travels and why he is away


Wonder if he's gone to stay
I wonder if he will ever return home or if this absence is permanent


And this house just ain't no home
Without his presence, the place where we lived together seems empty and devoid of warmth


And I know, I know, I know, I know
I am completely conscious of the immense sadness I feel


Oooh- hey, you gotta leave this young thing alone
He may have left because of someone younger and more attractive than me


Only darkness every day
Without him around to brighten my life, there is only sadness and a feeling of being submerged in darkness every day


It's not warm when he's away
Without him around, things don't seem as comfortable and relaxed as they were before he left


Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
The emptiness and loneliness in my life are only brought on by his leaving


Anytime that he goes away
Whenever he has to leave, my emotional state crumbles


Anytime he goes away
Whenever he has to leave, the sadness of his leaving overwhelms me




Writer(s): Bill Withers, Kajeem

Contributed by Jake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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