Born on the 2nd February 1985 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gardot took up piano and played as a youngster on the nightclub scene of Philadelphia, influenced by jazz, folk, rock, and pop musics. At the age of nineteen she was a fashion student at the Community College of Philadelphia. While cycling in Philadelphia in November 2003 she was hit by a car whose driver had ignored a red traffic light. In the accident she suffered serious head and spinal injuries, and her pelvis was broken in two places. Because of these severe injuries she was confined to her hospital bed for a year. Her musical beginning was prompted by a tending physician who was concerned with her cognitive impairment as a result of head injury sustained in the accident. He believed that music would help her brain injury improve, as it has been known to show remarkable results in improving people's cognitive ability after such trauma.
Following her doctor's suggestion, Gardot made recordings bedside, while still unable to walk, and eventually released the works as an EP: Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions (2005). Gardot's desire to be well, combined with a bit of luck, brought her to the attention of a local radio DJ at the AAA station WXPN (known for launching the careers of artists such as Amos Lee and Norah Jones). Her cognitive powers slowly but surely became pronounced, leading to the independent recording and release of her debut CD, Worrisome Heart, which was reissued in 2007 by Verve records.
Gardot is hypersensitive to light and noise, so wears dark glasses; she also uses a cane to walk. Onstage she requires a special seating unit, and wears a Transcutaneous Electro-Nerve Stimulator, a TENS device, to assist in alleviating her neuralgic muscle pain. Though touring is difficult, she has been performing in major cities on the East Coast of the U.S. to support her recordings. In 2009, working with producer Larry Klein and arranger Vince Mendoza - both known for their work with Joni Mitchell - Gardot followed up her Verve debut with My One and Only Thrill.
In 2012, she released the album The Absence.
Ain't No Sunshine
Melody Gardot Lyrics
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That you know you shouldn't have
The more you know you shouldn't have it,
The more you want it
And then one day you get it,
It's so good too
But it's just like my girl
When she's around me
But right now I just feel cold, so cold
Right down to my bones
'Cause oh
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
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 this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, know, know, know, know,
I know, I know,
Hey I ought to leave
I ought to leave her alone
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
The lyrics to Melody Gardot's song "Ain't No Sunshine" describe the feeling of desperately wanting someone who you know you shouldn't be with, and how the absence of that person makes everything feel cold and dark. The singer compares this person to sunshine - when they're around, everything feels good and warm, but when they're gone, there is no light or warmth. The repetition of "I know" throughout the song implies that the singer is fully aware that this person is bad for them, but they can't help wanting them anyways.
The lyrics are simple but impactful, with the repetition of the title phrase hammering home the central theme. Although the song was written by Bill Withers in 1971, Gardot's version adds a layer of soulful intensity through her bluesy vocals and the raw instrumentation of the backing band. The slow, mournful tempo of the song emphasizes the feeling of longing and emptiness that the lyrics describe.
Line by Line Meaning
You ever want something
Have you ever desired something in your life?
That you know you shouldn't have
That you realize you are not supposed to possess?
The more you know you shouldn't have it,
As you become more conscious that it's not appropriate,
The more you want it
Do you feel an increase in cravings for it?
And then one day you get it,
But eventually you receive it,
It's so good too
And indeed it feels great.
But it's just like my girl
However, it's similar to my girlfriend.
When she's around me
When she accompanies me.
I just feel so good, so good
I feel so positive and excellent.
But right now I just feel cold, so cold
But these days, I'm experiencing very low temperatures and chills.
'Cause oh
Since it's true that
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
There is no affection, light or happiness when my girl isn't there.
It's not warm when she's away
It doesn't have the warmth and happiness that comes from her presence when she's gone.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
The absence of my girl's love and presence makes everything dark and gloomy.
And she's always gone too long
And she is always absent more than the required time.
Anytime she goes away
Every time she leaves, it feels like a loss.
Wonder this time where she's gone
I'm curious where she could have gone this time.
Wonder if she's gone to stay
I'm wondering if her leaving me forever is a possibility.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
When she leaves, I feel her love and happiness disappear.
And this house just ain't no home
Without her, the house feels empty and lifeless.
Anytime she goes away
Every time she leaves, it's challenging to feel whole.
I know, I know, I know, I know,
Although I am aware,
I know, know, know, know, know,
And I am positive,
I know, I know,
I understand
Hey I ought to leave
I think I should leave
I ought to leave her alone
I know I should let her go.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
I can't bear it when she's not around.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Without her presence, there is no light or happiness.
Only darkness every day
It is only darkness that engulfs me every day.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Her light fills me, and it is absent when she is gone.
And this house just ain't no home
Without her, this isn't a home to me.
Anytime she goes away
Every time she's gone, it hurts like the first time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ulysses Jimenez
I just love her voice
Terrence Brazen
LOVE THIS VOICE!!!
heARTh
Love the way you sing, your style
Kimmo Kananen
For some time the next instrument on my list has been vibes - this reminded me of that. Thank you for reminding me :) Oh, and thank you for a fine performance!
charlie picaut
Merci beaucoup / Thank you very much
Superb version : groove with grace and subtlety !
Christine Mary Gallacher
Love this song and this is certainly a very different take on it but really like it...
georgirella
stunning interpretation ! ^^
Christelle Bastien
Trop bon un groove formidable
Amir Davoody
I LOVE IT
Philippe Noel
excellent retour aux sources,j,adore merci beaucoup.