Ain't No Sunshine – English Lyrics

• By: Passenger

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartfelt simplicity of Passenger's "Ain't No Sunshine," a beautiful indie-folk cover of Bill Withers' classic. This song, with its straightforward yet profound lyrics, offers a fantastic entry point into understanding emotional expression in English music. Its repetitive phrases and clear narrative make it highly accessible for language learners, while Passenger's unique vocal delivery adds a contemporary acoustic feel to a timeless tale of longing. Listen closely to how the words evoke a powerful sense of absence, and you'll not only grasp new vocabulary but also feel the universal emotion woven into every note.

[English]

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

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, I know, I know

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know

I know, I know, I know, I know

Hey, I oughtta leave young thing alone

But ain't no sunshine when she's gone

Only darkness every day

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

She's always gone too long

Anytime she goes away

...

Cause ain't no sunshine when she's gone

...

She's only talk and 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

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sunshine /ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn/ B1	noun - the light and warmth that comes from the sun
darkness /ˈdɑːrk.nəs/ B2	noun - the absence of light
home /hoʊm/ A2	noun - the place where one lives
gone /ɡɔn/ A2	adjective - no longer present
long /lɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - measuring a great distance from end to end
away /əˈweɪ/ A2	adverb - at a distance from a particular place
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to have information or understanding about something
talk /tɔːk/ A2	verb - to speak in order to give information or express ideas