Moving on to a sublime black-hole-where-the-sun-was song by the American artist from 1971's Just As I Am, and written when 31 and making toilet seats for 747 aeroplanes. But when the song flew high and went gold, the record company presented him with a gold toilet seat. A bit of shit reward gift, you might say, but you have to admire the humour. They song though is a classic from the missing-you school of melancholy, with wonderful string orchestration by Booker T Jones, Withers' soulful voice and characteristic 'I know, I know' repetition, along with Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass, Al Jackson, Jr. on drums and Stephen Stills on guitar.
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 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, I know
I know, I know
Hey, I oughtta leave young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away.
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