Boothe seemed, at the time, to have the makings of an international, long-lasting, hit maker, certainly when compared to most of the other latter-day reggae acts. His smoother style gave him a wider appeal, rather like UB40 and Aswad. Boothe's choice of songs also showed the breadth of his musical taste. But for all that, he only managed one more hit in the UK Chart, "Crying over You", which made Number 11.
In more recent times, Boothe has also recorded for Bunny Lee, Phil Pratt, King Jammy, Pete Weston, Jack Ruby, Hugh "Red Man" James, Castro Brown, and Tappa Zukie. Plus in 1995, he teamed up with Shaggy, for a new styled version of his old track, "The Train Is Coming", which appeared on the soundtrack of the film, Money Train.
A double-disc overview of Boothe's Trojan years, Crying over You, was released by the label in 2001.
Boothe's official Web site is at www.kenboothemusic.com
Ain't No Sunshine
Ken Boothe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Ken Boothe's song "Ain't No Sunshine" is a poignant ballad that speaks to the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can come with the absence of a loved one. The song is primarily centered on the experience of the singer, who is left feeling cold and alone whenever the object of their affection is away. The refrain "ain't no sunshine when she's gone" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the darkness that the singer feels in the absence of their loved one.
The second verse of the song further underscores the sense of emptiness that prevails in the singer's life when their loved one is away. The singer notes that their home doesn't feel like a home when their loved one is gone, and that the darkness that pervades everything is overwhelming. However, the singer also notes that they are determined to respect the wishes of their loved one and leave their things alone, even though it is difficult to do so.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the pain that can come with separation from a loved one. The repetition of the refrain emphasizes the emotional weight of the experience, and Boothe's soulful delivery adds an extra layer of pathos to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
It's always cold when she's away
The absence of the person he loves makes him feel lonely and cold
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
His life becomes gloomy and dark when the person he loves is not around
She's always gone too long
The person he loves is always away longer than he would like
Any time she goes away
Every time she is not around, he feels lost and alone
In this house just ain't my home
Without the person he loves, his home feels empty and devoid of warmth
I know
He acknowledges and is aware of how much he is affected by her absence
Yeah, I know
He repeats that he is fully aware of the impact of her absence
I will leave your things alone
He understands that there is no point in holding on to her things when she is not around
Only darkness every day
Without the person he loves, his days feel bleak and devoid of light
I wonder this time where she's gone
He is curious and unsure of where the person he loves has gone
I wonder if she's gone to stay
He wonders if her absence is going to be permanent
Any time she goes away
Every time she is not around, he feels lost and alone
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bobby Davro
Absolute classic
David Lamb
One of the greatest most soulful artists of our times . Beautiful Bill Withers song too.
Melanie Smith
Classic ❤
Açutí
BIG TUNE! 😭
Steven Bennett
Brilliant
vitto Alejandro di Corleone
forever loving Jah
Todd Devlin
@karentiffin43 i know, i know, i know i aught to leave that young thing alone, but there aint no sunshine when your gone!?
Haraki Manhaj
😅
Cizia Zykë
Feu