Ain't No Sunshine
Billy Childs Trio Lyrics


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It's always cold when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
She's always gone too long
Any time she goes away

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
In this house just ain't my home
Any time she goes away

I know
Yeah, I know
I know
I will leave your things alone
There ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness every day

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
In this house just ain't my home
Any time she goes away
Any time she goes away

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

I leave your things alone
But there ain't no sunshine when she's gone
I leave your things alone
But there ain't no sunshine when she's gone

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

Any time she goes away




Any time she goes away
Any time she goes away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Billy Childs Trio's "Ain't No Sunshine" explore the feelings of emptiness and longing that accompany the absence of a loved one. The repeated refrain, "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone," emphasizes the singer's sense of darkness and hollowness when the person they care about is not with them. The lyrics also touch on the themes of fear and insecurity that can arise when one's closest companion is absent, as the singer wonders where their loved one has gone and if they will return.


The lines "I know / Yeah, I know / I know" add intensity to the song, suggesting that the singer's knowledge of their loved one's absence amplifies their pain. The refrain "Any time she goes away" also underscores the idea that the feeling of emptiness is not limited to a single instance of absence, but rather pervades any time the loved one is not present. The lyrics end with the repetition of the refrain, emphasizing once again the persistent sense of darkness that accompanies the absence of the person the singer cares about.


Line by Line Meaning

It's always cold when she's away
There's a feeling of emptiness and loneliness when she's not here


Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Life feels dark and dreary when she's not around to brighten it up


She's always gone too long
Her absence feels like an extended period of time because I miss her so much


Any time she goes away
Every time she leaves, it feels like a piece of my heart goes with her


In this house just ain't my home
Without her presence, this place doesn't feel like a home


I know
I'm aware of the fact that her leaving is affecting me deeply


Yeah, I know
I fully understand the impact of her absence on my life


I will leave your things alone
I won't touch or move her belongings, as a symbol of respect for her presence in my life


Only darkness every day
Without her, there's no light or happiness in my life; everything seems bleak and hopeless


I wonder this time where she's gone
I feel unsure and unsettled about where she's gone, as her absence is greatly affecting my emotional state


I wonder if she's gone to stay
I have a fear that she might not come back, and that thought scares me


But there ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Her presence brings light and joy to my life, and without her, everything feels bleak and colorless


Any time she goes away
Whenever she leaves, my world feels like it's falling apart




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Bill Withers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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