From the 1960s to the 1980s, Diamond was one of the more successful pop music performers, scoring a number of hits. As critic William Ruhlmann writes, "as of 2001, he claimed worldwide record sales of 115 million copies, and as of 2002 he was ranked third, behind only Elton John and Barbra Streisand, on the list of the most successful adult contemporary artists in the history of the Billboard chart."[1] As of May 2005 he has sold 120 million records worldwide, including 48 million records in the U.S.[2]
Though his record sales declined somewhat after the 1980s, Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following. Diamond's songs have been recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres.
Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and then in 2000 was given its Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the early part of 2011.
In 2008 Neil Diamond scored his first ever Billboard number one album with "Home Before Dark", the album also became his first studio album to get to number one in the UK.
Ain't No Sunshine
Neil Diamond 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, yeah
I gotta to leave that girl alone,
'Cause 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.
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.
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, yeah
I got to leave young thing alone
'Cause 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
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away.
Anytime she goes away.
Anytime she goes away.
Anytime she goes away.
Neil Diamond's song "Ain't No Sunshine" is a heartfelt ballad that expresses the pain and loneliness that comes when a loved one is no longer near. The lyrics tell the story of a man who feels lost and alone when his woman is gone, and how the darkness of her absence fills his life with an overwhelming emptiness. The repetition of the phrase "ain't no sunshine" emphasizes the feelings of gloom and despair that comes from her absence.
The song's opening lines state that "It's not warm when she's away" which suggests that the loss that he feels comes from more than just missing her physical presence. The warmth and happiness that she brought into his life is also diminished. He wonders where she has gone and if she will return, but the uncertainty only adds to his heartache. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the "ain't no sunshine" when she is gone, emphasizing how the darkness of her absence has a lasting effect on his life.
The ending of the song highlights the man's realization that he needs to move on from this relationship because as long as he holds on to it, he will continue to live in darkness. The song's message is that sometimes we need to let go of those we love and move on, even when it hurts.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
The feeling of warmth and lightness fades away when she's not around.
It's not warm when she's away.
Without her presence, life seems dull and empty.
And she's always gone too long, anytime she goes away.
Her absence is prolonged every time she leaves, making it even harder to cope.
Wonder this time where she's gone,
Uncertainty and anxiety about her whereabouts exists every time.
Wonder if she's gone to stay
The fear of permanent separation is always looming.
And this house just ain't no home, anytime she goes away.
The place where she lives feels empty and desolate without her.
I gotta to leave that girl alone,
He acknowledges that he needs to let her go for his own well-being.
'Cause ain't no sunshine when she's gone,
The lack of her presence is unbearable.
Only darkness everyday.
The days seem gloomy and bleak without her.
I got to leave young thing alone
He repeats his realization that he needs to move on and let her go.
And she's always gone too long,
Again, he emphasizes her prolonged absences which cause him distress.
Anytime she goes away
Her leaving brings about a void in his life that he struggles to fill.
Anytime she goes away.
The repetition reflects the all-consuming nature of her absence.
Anytime she goes away.
Her leaving is a constant and inescapable reality.
Anytime she goes away.
Her absence is the source of his pain and struggle.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind