Alioune Badara Akon Thiam, born April 16, 1977 in Saint Louis, Missouri, Un… Read Full Bio ↴Alioune Badara Akon Thiam, born April 16, 1977 in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, known simply as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer-songwriter, record producer, businessman, and philanthropist.

He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of the singles "Locked Up" and "Lonely", from his debut album "Trouble". His second album, "Konvicted", earned him a Grammy Award nomination for the single Smack That featuring Eminem. His latest album, "Freedom", was released in 2008. Akon often sings hooks for other artists and is currently accredited with over 200 guest appearances and 32 Billboard Hot 100 songs.

He is the first solo artist to accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. He has also founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution and has a clothing label, Konvict clothing

Akon is a Muslim and has many charities of his own.

Akon's father is the Senagalese drummer Mor Thiam.

No Sunshine
akon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
She's gone much too long
Any time she goes away

Ain't no sunshine when 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

I know
She's gone to stay
It's breakin' me up
Anytime she goes away
Gotta leave the young thing alone
There ain't no sunshine when she's gone

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 gone much too long
Any time she goes away

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
I wonder if she's gone to stay
There ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't a home
Any time she goes away

I know
She's gone to stay
It's breaking me up
Any time she goes away
Gotta leave the young thing alone
There ain't no sunshine when she's gone

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
I wonder if she's gone to stay
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home

Any time she goes away
Any time she goes away

Overall Meaning

In Akon's song "No Sunshine," the lyrics seem to be about the sorrow and emptiness that are felt when a loved one is gone. The recurring refrain "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone" emphasizes the emotional impact of this absence. The song suggests that the warmth and light that the person brought to the singer's life are now missing, and the house feels empty without them. The lyrics also express a sense of resignation that the person has gone to stay, making the sadness more permanent.

The repeated line "Any time she goes away" reinforces the sense of loss and its ongoing nature. The singer's attempts to accept the situation, such as when he says he needs to "leave the young thing alone," seem to be outweighed by the pain of the separation. The repetitive structure of the song, particularly the way the verses and choruses mirror one another, contributes to a feeling of cyclic despair.

Overall, the song captures the experience of missing someone deeply and the way their absence can make the world feel like a darker, colder place. The sparse instrumentation and Akon's emotive vocals contribute to the mournful tone of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
The absence of the woman he loves creates a void in his life

It's not warm when she's away
The warmth and comfort of his life are gone when she is not present

She's gone much too long
Her absence has been extended for too long

Any time she goes away
Every time she leaves, the sunshine in his life disappears

Wonder if she's gone to stay
He is unsure if she has left permanently

And this house just ain't no home
The house has lost its warmth and comfort without her presence

I know She's gone to stay It's breakin' me up Anytime she goes away
He knows she has left for good and it is emotionally devastating when she leaves

Gotta leave the young thing alone
He must let her go and move on

Contributed by Vivian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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