Petty was supported by his band, The Heartbreakers, for the majority of his career. He has occasionally released solo work, as was the case with his 2006 album Highway Companion on which he performed most of the backing instrumentation himself. However, members of The Heartbreakers have played on each of his solo albums and the band has always backed him when touring in support of those albums.
After the Petty's previous band Mudcrutch disbanded, Petty, never one to give up, enlisted Mudcrutch members Tench (keyboards) and Mike Campbell (guitar), along with Gainesville musicians Ron Blair (bass) and Stan Lynch (drums) to form the now famous lineup that was dubbed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They released their first album, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in November 1976. In 2006, the band celebrated the 30th anniversary of that release.
This lineup stayed intact for four records and was responsible for some of the most infectious songs ("American Girl", "Breakdown", "Listen To Her Heart", "Refugee", "I Need To Know", "Don't Do Me Like That") and one of the most critically acclaimed albums ("Damn the Torpedoes") of all time. Their tremendous success catapulted them from club band to arena rockers seemingly overnight.
Bassist Blair split the band in 1982 and was replaced by Howie Epstein, a protege of seminal rocker Del Shannon. Epstein's solid playing and soaring backing vocals further complemented the band's live attack. Without missing a beat, they headed back into the studio to record a string of successful albums, including the classic "Long After Dark". In 1994, Stan Lynch left the Heartbreakers to pursue other musical challenges and Steve Ferrone (well regarded for his work with the Average White Band and Eric Clapton) soon became the Heartbreakers' chosen drummer.
Most recently, at a time when many of their contemporaries have long since grown complacent, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have in 2002 released one of their finest and most controversial efforts - featuring some of Petty's most moving songs. Recorded both before and following the group's 2002 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, "The Last DJ", reflected Petty's strong views about the state of the music business and the culture generally. With the departure of Howie Epstein, "The Last DJ" marked another notable return: after two decades away, founding Heartbreaker Ron Blair returned to the band's rhythm section. In 2010, The Heartbreakers released the well received album "Mojo".
Petty died on 2 October 2017 following a cardiac episode earlier that day at his home in Malibu, California. Although some media outlets incorrectly reported his death following an erroneous police report, his death was confirmed later that day by his publicist and manager.
Ain't No Sunshine
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't got no home
A-no place to roam
Ain't got no home
A-no place to roam
I'm a lonely boy
I ain't got a home
I got a voice
I love to sing
I sing like a girl
And I sing like a frog
I'm a lonely boy
I ain't got a home
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
I ain't got a man
I ain't got a son
I ain't got a daughter
I ain't got no one
I'm a lonely girl
I ain't got a home
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
I ain't got a mudder
I ain't got a fadder
I ain't got a sister
Not even a brudder
I'm a lonely frog
I ain't got a home
Oh, what you say to me
Please say to me
Oh, what you say to me
Please say to me
I'm a lonely frog
I ain't got a home
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo
It's important to note that these lyrics may not be the original or official lyrics to the Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' song "Ain't No Sunshine." It's possible that these lyrics are a misinterpretation or variation of the original. However, based on the lyrics provided, it appears to be a song about loneliness and the search for a place to belong.
The singer of the song is portrayed as someone without a home, family, or anyone to turn to. They describe themselves as a "lonely boy" and "lonely girl" and express their desire for someone to speak to them and offer them comfort. The use of the repeated "Ooo-ooo" throughout the song adds to the sense of longing and loneliness.
Overall, "Ain't No Sunshine" seems to be a poignant portrayal of isolation and the struggles that come with it. The repetition of the lyrics and the simple melody add to the song's haunting and melancholic feel.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't got no home
I don't have a place to live
A-no place to roam
I don't have anywhere to go
I'm a lonely boy
I feel isolated and alone
I got a voice
I have a singing voice
I love to sing
I enjoy the act of singing
I sing like a girl
My singing voice is higher pitched like a girl's
And I sing like a frog
My singing voice is croaky like a frog's
I ain't got a man
I don't have a male partner
I ain't got a son
I don't have a male child
I ain't got a daughter
I don't have a female child
I ain't got no one
I don't have anyone in my life
I'm a lonely girl
I feel isolated and alone
I ain't got a mudder
I don't have a mother
I ain't got a fadder
I don't have a father
I ain't got a sister
I don't have a female sibling
Not even a brudder
I don't even have a male sibling
I'm a lonely frog
I feel isolated and alone
Oh, what you say to me
Please speak to me
Please say to me
Communicate with me
I'm a lonely frog
I feel isolated and alone
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLARENCE HENRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pam McMonigle
Oh, how I love this! Tom Petty singing Ain’t No Sunshine…probably the best cover of this song I have ever heard!
NevadaBoss
No TP, there indeed 'ain't no sunshine' since you've gone away. A void so big it could crush this town. Godspeed Tom, you will never know how much we love and miss you.
david Felton
If I could only have 10 songs on my iTunes, this would be one of them. Miss you, Tom.
Shannon Kringen
Love it
Kathy Gragnolati
I just can’t stop listening…💘
Miss you everyday, Tom…💘
walmartsuxhard
Excellent cover that utilizes Petty's voice in a unique way! Thank you Petty family.
Carol fidler
Beautiful. 💖
Karl Lee
I can’t stop sobbing. 59yo.
I don’t cry. I don’t.
Thanks Heartbreakers.
Love you you crazy ass guitar slingin’ standard writers.
Cash Minier
They never rehearsed or played this song but they knew how to stay in time with each other. Tom saying I know I know I know is testament that even though he didn't know how many times to say it he still is a good leader.
Xavi Usach
Brutal...
El puto amo, Tom!