Béatrice has played the piano since the age of three, which was initiated by her mother, a professional pianist. She later played as a keyboardist in the post-hardcore band December Strikes First when she was 15 years old. In March 2007, after five years of music education, she started composing her own songs.
After a brief stint as keyboardist for Bonjour Brumaire, a French-Canadian Indie Rock/Indie Pop band, she released her solo debut album Cœur de pirate in 2008 on the Québécois independent record label Grosse Boîte. The album found much critical acclaim and was subsequently nominated for Francophone Album of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards.
Ain't No Sunshine
Cœur de Pirate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone
But 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
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
The lyrics to Cœur de Pirate's song Ain't No Sunshine are about the loneliness and emptiness that comes from being separated from a loved one. The repetition of the line "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone" emphasizes the depth of the singer's despair. The absence of the person they love leaves them feeling cold and in darkness. The lyrics suggest that the person who has left has done so repeatedly, and the singer wonders where they have gone and whether they will ever return.
The singer also acknowledges that they should leave the person alone, but they cannot help being drawn to them despite the pain of their absence. The final repetition of "anytime she goes away" drives home the sense of hopelessness and resignation that the singer feels. The song captures the universal human experience of longing for someone who is not present and the overwhelming sadness that comes with their absence.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
The absence of her presence creates a void and darkness.
It's not warm when she's away.
The warmth that her presence brought is not present when she is gone.
And she's always gone too long
The length of time she spends away increases the longing for her to return.
Anytime she goes away
Her absence affects the environment and feel around everyone in the vicinity.
Wonder this time where she's gone
The unknown whereabouts of her departure create anxiety and worry.
Wonder if she's gone to stay
The uncertainty of a true return creates fear of a permanent absence.
And this house just ain't no home
The home is a place void of comfort and love with her absence.
I ought to leave the young thing alone
Although she is a young woman, it is wise to let her be and not get attached.
Only darkness every day.
The lack of her presence and the feeling that she will not return creates a sense of gloom and despair.
Anytime she goes away
Her absence echoes and lingers, affecting everyone.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind