Among a number of groups who helped define the Motown Sound of the 1960s, including The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Temptations and The Supremes, The Four Tops were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer; most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor. The group was the main male vocal group for the songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who crafted for the group a stream of popular hit singles, including two #1 hits: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There". After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, the Four Tops were assigned to a number of producers, primarily Frank Wilson. When Motown left Detroit in 1972 to move to Los Angeles, California, the Tops stayed in Detroit and moved over to ABC Records, where they continued to have charting singles into the late-1970s. Since the 1980s, The Four Tops have recorded for, at various times, Motown, Casablanca Records, and Arista Records.
As an unofficial record, it is believed that The Four Tops were the band to continue performing the longest without a lineup change. Levi Stubbs, Abdul Fakir, Renaldo Benson and Lawrence Payton sang together as the Four Tops from 1954 until 1997, when Lawrence Payton died of cancer. That's an astonishing 43 years without a lineup change. The three surviving members continued to tour as "The Tops."
Ain't No Sunshine
The Four Tops Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ain't no woman like the one I've got)
(Ain't no woman like the one I've got)
Every day the sun comes up around her
She can make the birds sing harmony
Every drop of rain is glad it found her
Heaven must have made her just for me
A sight for sore eyes to see
Ooh (ain't no woman like the one I've got)
Oh, no, they don't come better
(To make her happy doesn't take a lot)
She don't ask for things, no diamond rings
(So together, like a hand in glove)
Like pages in a letter
(Ain't no woman like the one I love)
She can fill me up when it's down I'm goin' (I'm goin')
Put a little music in my day
Wouldn't be surprised if my love keeps growin' (it keeps growin')
Bigger every minute that she stays away
I would kiss the ground she walks on
'Cause it's my word, my word she'll obey, now
Woo-ooh (ain't no woman like the one I've got)
Well, I kiss the ground she walks on
(To make her happy doesn't take a lot)
She's a real good friend right to the end
(So together like a hand in glove)
A lonely man when she's gone
(People, ain't no woman like the one I love)
Ooh, what a good, good thing I've got
She means to me a lot
(Ain't no woman like the I've got)
No, no, they don't come better
(To make her happy doesn't take a lot)
She don't ask for things, no diamond rings
(So together, like a hand in glove)
Like pages in a letter
(Ain't no woman like the one I love, people)
(Ain't no woman like the one I've got)
Well, I kiss the ground she walks on
(To make her happy doesn't take a lot)
I'm a lonely man when my baby's gone
The Four Tops' "Ain't No Woman" is a love song that celebrates the singer's belief that he has found the perfect woman. He believes that there is "ain't no woman" who can compare to the one he's got. He describes how she makes his world better, from the way she attracts beauty to the way she fills him with joy. He feels like he's found a soulmate who is a true friend, by his side through thick and thin. He's grateful for her and knows that he wouldn't be who he is without her.
The song is a simple declaration of love that speaks for many people in relationships. The lyrics are relatable and easy to understand. The singer’s belief in his woman, his appreciation of her, and his devotion to her resonate with listeners. The metaphor comparing his love to light, birds singing in harmony, and rain finding joy in her presence adds a romantic and profound element to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Every day the sun comes up around her
She brightens up my life every day
She can make the birds sing harmony
She has a way of bringing beauty and harmony to the world
Every drop of rain is glad it found her
Even the rain feels lucky to be near her
Heaven must have made her just for me
I feel like she was created just for me, it's meant to be
When she smiles so warm and tender
Her smile is so loving and caring
Ooh (ain't no woman like the one I've got)
There truly is no one like her
Oh, no, they don't come better
She's the best there is
(To make her happy doesn't take a lot)
It doesn't take much to make her happy
She don't ask for things, no diamond rings
She's not materialistic and doesn't need expensive items to feel loved
(So together, like a hand in glove)
We fit together perfectly, like two pieces of a puzzle
Like pages in a letter
We're connected and tell a story as we go along
(Ain't no woman like the one I love)
I really, truly love her and she's one of a kind
She can fill me up when it's down I'm goin' (I'm goin')
When I'm feeling low, she can lift me up and make everything better
Put a little music in my day
She adds joy and happiness to my life
Wouldn't be surprised if my love keeps growin' (it keeps growin')
My love for her just keeps getting stronger
Bigger every minute that she stays away
I miss her more and more each minute that she's gone
I would kiss the ground she walks on
I'm willing to do anything for her and show my love
'Cause it's my word, my word she'll obey, now
She trusts and believes in me
She's a real good friend right to the end
She's not just my love, she's also my best friend
(People, ain't no woman like the one I love)
I want everyone to know that she's unique and special to me
Ooh, what a good, good thing I've got
I'm lucky to have her in my life
She means to me a lot
She's incredibly important and valuable to me
I'm a lonely man when my baby's gone
I feel incomplete and lost without her
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Potter, Dennis Earle Lambert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind