Ain't No Sunshine
Michael Jackson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You ever want something
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
I just feel so good, so good
But right know I just feel cold, so cold
Right down to my bones
'Cause, ooh

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 always gone too long
Anytime she goes away, yeah

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 (anytime she goes away)
Hmm

I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, know, know, know, know
I know, I know
Hey, I ought to leave (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)

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone (ain't no sunshine when she's gone)
Only darkness every day (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)

Ooh (ain't no sun)
Ooh (ain't no sun)
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na (whoa)
Anytime she goes away

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone (ain't no sunshine when she's gone)
(It's not warm when she's away) 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

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Goes away, no, no, no, no
Anytime she goes away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Anytime she goes away
Only darkness every day
Anytime she goes away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone




Anytime that she goes away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

Overall Meaning

The song Ain't No Sunshine, written and performed by Michael Jackson, is a sorrowful contemplation of missing someone who is not around anymore. The lyrics describe a situation where someone is yearning for something that they know is not right for them, but they cannot resist. The more they try to resist the craving, the more it intensifies. Then, when they finally get what they wanted, they feel happy at first, but that joy quickly fades away, and they are left feeling alone and cold like someone close to them is no longer there. The refrain of the song sings about the absence of sunshine that is caused by the absence of a woman, and how her absence makes everything feel darker and colder, and the house just doesn't feel like a home without her.


As he continues to explore his feelings, Michael questions where the woman he is missing has gone, and wonders if she is ever coming back. He repeats the phrase "ain't no sunshine" several times, emphasizing the extent of the darkness that he feels without her. In the bridge portion of the song, Michael acknowledges that he knows he should leave this longing behind, but he is not sure if he can or is willing to do so.


Overall, Ain't No Sunshine is a beautiful song that talks about the emotional depths people can reach when they lose someone they love, and the way that the absence of love and warmth can make everything feel colder and darker.


Line by Line Meaning

You ever want something
Have you ever desired something?


That you know you shouldn't have
Something that you know is not right to have.


The more you know you shouldn't have it
The more you realize that it's not something you should possess.


The more you want it
But the more you crave it, the stronger your desire becomes.


And then one day, you get it
Eventually, you manage to have it.


It's so good too
And when you finally get it, it's delightful.


But it's just like my girl
But it's akin to how I feel about my woman.


When she's around me
Whenever she is beside me.


I just feel so good, so good
I experience happiness and contentment.


But right now I just feel cold, so cold
However, currently, it's the opposite, I am feeling lonely and bitter.


'Cause, ooh
To explain this feeling, I say 'ooh.'


Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
When she's not with me, there's no joy or happiness.


It's not warm when she's away
Her absence brings chillness to my life, and it's not joyful anymore.


And she always gone too long
Furthermore, she is never around for a reasonable period.


Anytime she goes away, yeah
Whenever she leaves, it's unbearable.


Wonder this time where she's gone
I worry and wonder about her whereabouts this time.


Wonder if she's gone to stay
I ponder if she left for good.


And this house just ain't no home
Plus, the home feels incomplete and empty.


Anytime she goes away (anytime she goes away)
Her departure always sparks loneliness anytime she leaves.


I ought to leave (ought to leave)
I should probably walk away.


I ought to leave her alone
Maybe it's best to leave her alone.


Only darkness every day (only darkness every day)
Every day feels like a gloomy night with her not around.


Ooh (ain't no sun)
When she's away, it seems like there's no sunlight.


Na-na-na-na, na-na-na (whoa)
In trying to express how gloomy things feel, I make such vocalizations.


Goes away, no, no, no, no
When she leaves, things become quite unbearable.


Anytime she goes away
No matter how often she departs, it never gets easier.


Only darkness every day
Every day feels a bit dark without her presence.


Anytime that she goes away
When she leaves, sadness and loneliness fill the air.


Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Her absence always leaves behind a hollow feeling.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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