While Gayle is the younger sister of Loretta Lynn, her musical sound is very different from Lynn's. Gayle's career began as country music moved towards a more pop-oriented sound in the 1970s, as exemplified by such performers as Lynn Anderson and Barbara Mandrell. Gayle's music reflects the modern Nashville sound.
Ain't No Sunshine
Crystal Gayle 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,
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 of Crystal Gayle's song "Ain't No Sunshine" convey the feeling of deep yearning and loneliness when the singer's loved one is away. The repetition of the phrase "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone" drives home the emptiness that the singer feels in her absence. The lyrics also describe how the absence of the loved one makes the singer's home a desolate and cold place. The singer wonders if her loved one will ever return and if she is gone to stay, indicating a sense of doubt and uncertainty.
The repetition of the phrase "I know" conveys the singer's awareness of the situation she is in, but also underscores her helplessness to change it. The final line of the song "anytime she goes away" shows that the singer has resigned herself to the fact that her loved one will leave again, leaving her to feel the same emptiness and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.
Life without her is nothing; it's empty and incomplete.
It's not warm when she's away.
Her warmth and presence are essential to make everything feel cozy and comfortable.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
The same idea expressed in the first line, emphasizing how her absence makes everything bleak and dull.
And she's always gone too long anytime she goes away.
She's away more often than she's present, making her absence even more painful and noticeable.
Wonder this time where she's gone,
The singer is uncertain and worried about where the woman is this time, adding to the anxiety and distress she feels.
Wonder if she's gone to stay
The singer questions whether the woman has intentionally left and doesn't plan on coming back, creating anxiety and fear about the future.
And this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away.
Without the woman, the house doesn't feel like a home; it loses all its warmth and familiarity, and the singer feels lost and lonely.
Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone,
The singer acknowledges that she should probably let go of this relationship, but she can't bring herself to do so.
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone,
The same point from earlier; without her, everything feels dark and gloomy, making the singer's decision to stay even harder.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone, only darkness everyday.
The absence of this woman makes life feel like a never-ending night; she's the only source of light that can break through the darkness.
Anytime she goes away.
The repetition of this line emphasizes the pain and frustration of her absence, and how it never stops hurting no matter how many times it happens.
Anytime she goes away.
The same as the previous meaning.
Anytime she goes away.
The same as the previous meaning.
Anytime she goes away.
The same as the previous meaning.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind