This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
It's dark, and hell is hot
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, 'cause when it's on
You niggas know to be gone, every time, 'cause we don't play
"Who turned out the lights?" is what niggas be sayin'
Now you don't wanna fight, but y'all niggas be playin'
Thinkin' it's alright, keep playin' with that role
And you gonna know the night when you layin' in that hole
Dirt gettin' tossed in your grave, now it's all over
Preacher said you was brave, but now it's all over
You just one of the many plenty I done gave it to
Ain't no savin' you
No matter how many tears your moms cried
Ain't gon' bring your ass back, plus in hell you gon' fry
Why? But now the only two relative questions
Is "do we bury him or burn him? Any suggestions?"
Either way, you up out of here for good
Now when niggas mention your name, they knockin' on wood (aight)
Did I get my point across?
Another body on the shottie, another joint I toss
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, 'cause when it's on
You niggas know to be gone every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
It ain't no sunshine when the dark man comes out
And I want mine, so I plan to keep my gun out
We got four nines, so niggas run in and run out
But I bust mine, 'cause I'd like to hear some shouts
Get at me dog, niggas know how it's goin' dizzy
When it comes to that flow, I gets busy
Who is he? Dark man of the unknown (rrr, arf)
One dog, one bone
Now who ain't goin' home? Looks like you
You hit strike one, talkin' shit, strike two
Won't be a strike three, 'cause I don't play fair
I'ma look you in your eye while he hit you from the rear
Be like, yeah, holdin' you up 'cause you fallin' (what?)
The Lord ain't comin', so nigga, stop callin'
You was ballin' a minute ago, in it for dough
'Til it was, "yo, I swear to God, I didn't know"
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, 'cause when it's on
You niggas know to be gone, every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
What you think you gon' get, fuck around with my dough
Just so it ain't no mistakes, this is my show
One (one) two (two) three, here I go
Your shit is quick, and your shit is slick, but this shit is thick
Ain't you hear this shit? Damn right, I can finish shit
If you caught that verse without a rewind, you can see mine
But you'd be blind, I'll do it 360 and come up from behind
Tap you on your shoulder, have you turnin' around
Hit you with somethin' that'll have you burnin' the ground
Be like, "damn, ain't nothin' left of money but a pile of ash"
Life is good, so please enjoy it while it lasts
'Cause you know ain't got much longer to go
The quicker you go depends on the stronger the flow
Well, niggas know, I don't give a fuck, right or wrong
But ain't no sunshine when it's on
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, 'cause when it's on
You niggas know to be gone every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, 'cause when it's on
You niggas know to be gone, every time, 'cause we don't play
"Who turned out the lights?" is what niggas be sayin'
Now you don't wanna fight, but y'all niggas be playin'
Thinkin' it's alright, keep playin' with that role
And you gonna know the night when you layin' in that hole
Dirt gettin' tossed in your grave, now it's all over
Preacher said you was brave, but now it's all over
You just one of the many plenty I done gave it to
Ain't no savin' you
No matter how many tears your moms cried
Ain't gon' bring your ass back, plus in hell you gon' fry
Why? But now the only two relative questions
Is "do we bury him or burn him? Any suggestions?"
Either way, you up out of here for good
Now when niggas mention your name, they knockin' on wood (aight)
Did I get my point across?
Another body on the shottie, another joint I toss
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, 'cause when it's on
You niggas know to be gone every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
It ain't no sunshine when the dark man comes out
And I want mine, so I plan to keep my gun out
We got four nines, so niggas run in and run out
But I bust mine, 'cause I'd like to hear some shouts
Get at me dog, niggas know how it's goin' dizzy
When it comes to that flow, I gets busy
Who is he? Dark man of the unknown (rrr, arf)
One dog, one bone
Now who ain't goin' home? Looks like you
You hit strike one, talkin' shit, strike two
Won't be a strike three, 'cause I don't play fair
I'ma look you in your eye while he hit you from the rear
Be like, yeah, holdin' you up 'cause you fallin' (what?)
The Lord ain't comin', so nigga, stop callin'
You was ballin' a minute ago, in it for dough
'Til it was, "yo, I swear to God, I didn't know"
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, 'cause when it's on
You niggas know to be gone, every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
What you think you gon' get, fuck around with my dough
Just so it ain't no mistakes, this is my show
One (one) two (two) three, here I go
Your shit is quick, and your shit is slick, but this shit is thick
Ain't you hear this shit? Damn right, I can finish shit
If you caught that verse without a rewind, you can see mine
But you'd be blind, I'll do it 360 and come up from behind
Tap you on your shoulder, have you turnin' around
Hit you with somethin' that'll have you burnin' the ground
Be like, "damn, ain't nothin' left of money but a pile of ash"
Life is good, so please enjoy it while it lasts
'Cause you know ain't got much longer to go
The quicker you go depends on the stronger the flow
Well, niggas know, I don't give a fuck, right or wrong
But ain't no sunshine when it's on
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, 'cause when it's on
You niggas know to be gone every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
No Sunshine Lyrics as written by Earl Simmons Damon J Blackman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Since nobody here even attempted to contribute some possible meaning behind the song, Ill tel lyou what I think.
I think it is a message of how life can end at anytime, and he seems to suggest that you should live it to the fullest every chance you get. "Life is good, so please enjoy it, while it lasts" this message seems to be contrasted with the rest of the verses which are detailing how bad the "Street" can be.
Also, the song is probably a tribute to Bill Withers, hence the similar chorus, and melody.
Now instead of spamming the comments section with your foolish argument about rap, you guys should be reading the lyrics and coming up with your own ideas for the meaning.
you would think that you would find some meaning to this song, considering that it is on songMEANINGS.com ?? ??
I just love this tune. I heard it on Exit Wounds and just loved it. It's kinda depressing, but it's a cool tune. I can't really seem to find any meaning in it quite yet.
rap is gay
I aggree with Polson, but I like this song...
ay diz aint even my fuckin sn but yall needz 2 reconize, X iz da man an da song iz dope ya heard me?
ok what the hell were u trying to say. i might not be up on this "street talk" but god damn get a fuckin life.
hahaha
Ez a szám qrva jó! És DMX is egy király rapper! És az a fux a nyakában! Hmmm.... kedvenc, és jó pasi és jól nyomja nagyon!
ok this is a good song. i love the tune. DMX is hot. haha yeahhhh but dont diss the way ppl talk