Patricia Kaas (born December 5, 1966 in Forbach, France) is a French singer… Read Full Bio ↴Patricia Kaas (born December 5, 1966 in Forbach, France) is a French singer. Kaas is one of the most successful French-speaking singers in the world. Stylistically her music is not classical chanson, but is closer to jazz, comparable with that of Lara Fabian. Since the appearance of her debut album Mademoiselle chante… in 1988 Kaas has sold more than 15 million records worldwide. She had her greatest success in Germany and Switzerland with her third album Je te dis vous, which reached 11th and 2nd place in the countries' charts respectively. A significant ingredient of her successful formula is her impressive stage presence; Kaas is almost constantly on tour internationally. In 2002 Kaas had her film debut in And now... Ladies and Gentlemen beside Jeremy Irons.
Kaas is currently on a world tour since the end of 2008 to promote her latest album kabaret. She represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia and finished 8th with the song et s'il fallait le faire. The song received positive reviews in several newspapers and polls and a clear majority of 62% of all voters in a questionnaire believed in her chances to win the competition.

Ain't No Sunshine
Patricia Kaas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
It's not warm when he's away
Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
And he always gone too long anytime he goes away

Wonder this time where he's gone
Wonder if he's gone to stay
Ain't no sunshine when he's gone

This house just ain't no home anytime he goes away

I know
I know
I know

I should leave the young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when he's gone
Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
Only darkness everyday
Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
This house just ain't no home
Anytime he goes away

I know
I know
I know

Hey, I oughta leave the young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when he's gone
Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
Only darkness everyday

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
This house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away

Anytime he goes away

Anytime he goes away
Anytime he goes away

Overall Meaning

In Patricia Kaas's song "Ain't No Sunshine," the lyrics depict the immense emptiness and desolation that a person feels when a loved one is gone. The repeated phrase "Ain't no sunshine when he's gone" emphasizes the magnitude of the absence felt in the singer's life. The singer is aware of the relationship's toxicity and how they should leave their partner alone, but ultimately can't resist them, as shown in the lyrics, "I should leave the young thing alone, but ain't no sunshine when he's gone." The phrase, "Only darkness everyday" highlights that it's not just the absence of light but also the inability to see hope or positivity in life.

The repetition of the phrase, "I know," reinforces that the singer is aware of the situation and their partner's negative impact, but the love they have can't be shaken. The second part of the song highlights that it's not just the romantic partner, but any form of absence that causes one's life to become empty, as it says "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone." It shows that the absence of anyone significant and close to you can lead to such despair and darkness in life.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
Life loses its warmth and light when the person she loves is absent.

It's not warm when he's away
The singer feels cold and lonely when he is gone.

And he always gone too long anytime he goes away
The loved one is often absent for extended periods of time, causing sadness and longing.

Wonder this time where he's gone
The artist feels uncertain about where her lover has gone.

Wonder if he's gone to stay
The artist is anxious about whether her lover is coming back or leaving her for good.

This house just ain't no home anytime he goes away
Without the presence of her lover, the singer feels that her home has lost its sense of comfort and belonging.

I know I know I know
The singer recognizes the truth of her situation, but still struggles to come to terms with it.

Hey, I oughta leave the young thing alone
The artist knows that she should stay away from her lover due to the pain he causes her.

Only darkness everyday
The artist feels like she is trapped in a world of sadness and hopelessness without her lover.

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
In a gender-flipped version of the lyrics, the artist describes how her own absence affects her loved one.

Anytime he goes away
Regardless of the gender or relationship, the pain of absence is always present.

Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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