Managed initially by Dionne Warwick's father Speedy Warwick, they soon were recording for United Artists and scored hits from 1971 to 1974 with lushly orchestrated, million seller tunes such as "Treat Her Like a Lady" (1971), "Too Late to Turn Back Now" (1972), "I'm Never Gonna Be Alone Anymore" (1973), and "Don't Ever Be Lonely (A Poor Little Fool Like Me)" (1974). Sadly, though having early successes, their sweet soul sound (viewed by many fans as reminiscent of The Jackson 5 and The Supremes) did not gain much more attention as the decade came to a close. Still, their early hit singles are still heavily requested and frequently played on oldies format stations.
Carter, who died in 1991 at age 43, had changed his name in 1976 to Prince Gideon Israel, after joining a reclusive black supremacist religious religious sect in Miami, whose followers all adopt the name Israel. Sister Rose continued in show biz for a while, working with her husband Garvey playing R&B and reggae tunes around Florida. While the group is no more, their songs still receive considerable airplay.
Ain't No Sunshine
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose Lyrics
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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 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.
The lyrics to Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose's song "Ain't No Sunshine" express the feeling of loneliness and emptiness when a loved one is not around. The repetition of the phrase "ain't no sunshine" emphasizes the absence of light and warmth in the singer's life when his loved one is gone. The second verse suggests that the singer is worried that the person he loves may not come back, and this adds to the melancholic atmosphere of the song. The bridge highlights the desperation and the inability to move on from the loved one, despite knowing that it might be the best decision in the end. The song ends with the same repetitive phrase, creating a circular narrative as if the singer is trapped in his feelings of emptiness and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.
This place feels empty and cold without her.
It's not warm when she's away.
Everything seems to lose its brightness and warmth without her.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Life becomes dull and mundane in her absence.
And she's always gone too long anytime she goes away.
Her absence is felt deeply because she stays away for long periods of time.
Wonder this time where she's gone,
Curiosity arises regarding where she could be.
Wonder if she's gone to stay
Doubt that she might not come back and stay gone for good arises.
And this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away.
The home feels empty and lonely in her absence, making it difficult to feel at ease.
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,
I'm aware, I'm aware, I'm aware, I'm aware, I'm aware,
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I can't help but know and feel the impact of her absence.
Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone,
I should distance myself from this person I'm drawn to.
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone, only darkness everyday.
My world becomes bleak and gloomy without her, making it hard to resist reaching out.
Anytime she goes away.
Her absence is felt every time she leaves, making it difficult to get through the day.
Anytime she goes away.
Her absence is persistent and unrelenting, emphasizing the impact she has on the singer's life.
Anytime she goes away.
Nostalgia arises regarding the times she's left before and how difficult it always is.
Anytime she goes away.
This line emphasizes the repetitiveness of her leaving and the impact it has every time, bringing the song full circle.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind