And this house just ain’t no home/
Anytime she goes away.

Bill Withers has a great voice that sounds somewhat androgynous to me. “Aint No Sunshine” is not as famous as his “Lean on Me”, but it is a far superior song. The lyrics of “Ain’t No Sunshine” are in the tradition of the blues. Withers is singing about a pain he has—he gets lonely and down when his girl is away from him. I like the way he describes how differently he feels when she is away…he feels like his house is not a home anymore.

The bridge is very interesting: the line “I know I ought to leave young thing alone”. While the rest of the song is relatively innocent—and is all about his love for his love–in the middle of the song he throws in a line about women who are tempting him while his love is not in sight. Very honest lyrics. I am certain they must have gone over well with his girlfriend.

The production of “Ain’t No Sunshine” is by T-bone Walker, and it is fantastic. Specifically, the string section coming in and out and the level of intensity of the strings at different points in the song is unique. Sometimes the change it volume is almost startling. We notice it. Another great aspect of the production/songwriting is the repeated use of “I know”. I think a lesser producer would have axed it.

Ain’t No Sunshine Lyrics

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, 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

Songwriters: Bill Withers

Tender love is blind/
It requires a dedication.

It was Heraclitus who said you can never step in the same river twice. The Bee Gees attempted to take that idea, twist it a bit and make a song about it with “Islands in the Stream”. The version you know is the duet between Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers.

Occasionally the Bee Gees would perform it too. They played it similarly and it was equally great. The idea of the stream being that life (the stream) is moving fast by us, but our love together can be an island that gives life meaning and stability. It is a nice way to think about love.

“Islands in the Stream” has a really strong chorus. I also think Parton’s vocal is particularly strong. The song has a very eighties feel, but it still manages to transcend it. I think it is because of how well written the song is and also because of how well Roger’s voice blends with Parton’s.

Islands In the Stream Lyrics

Baby, when I met you there was peace unknown
I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb
I was soft inside
There was something going on

You do something to me that I can’t explain
Hold me closer and I feel no pain
Every beat of my heart
We got something going on

Tender love is blind
It requires a dedication
All this love we feel needs no conversation
We ride it together, ah ha
Making love with each other, ah ha

Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha

I can’t live without you if the love was gone
Everything is nothing if you got no one
And you did walk in the night
Slowly losing sight of the real thing

But that won’t happen to us and we got no doubt
Too deep in love and we got no way out
And the message is clear
This could be the year for the real thing

No more will you cry
Baby, I will hurt you never
We start and end as one
In love forever
We can ride it together, ah ha
Making love with each other, ah ha

Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha

Oh, come sail away with me
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha

Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between

Songwriters: Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb / Barry Alan Gibb

So, goodbye. Please, don’t cry/
We both know I’m not what you, you need.

Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” was one of the biggest music sensations in the past 40 years. This song was everywhere for several months, and so was Whitney, and she was the country’s darling. People who otherwise would never listen to or respect black people still loved Whitney.

She had the model-looks, the smile, and the beautiful voice that she knew how to use. Where others like Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera went overboard with fake emotion, Whitney pushed the boundaries with her vocals, but the emotion was always there. This is Whitney at the top of her game.

Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” is equally fantastic.  It sounds more personal than Whitney’s version. It sounds as if she is certain the love is over, whereas Whitney sings in a tone as if to reassure her man. That is a big difference in interpretation.  Together, they achieve a higher standing on this list than either version of this list would alone.

Whitney Houston has a couple songs on this list. I think she was one of the biggest slights from Rolling Stones Top 500 list. Their list is great, but often women and soft rockers got the short end of the stick on their list, and Whitney is in both of those lanes.

Lyrics I Will Always Love You

If I should stay, I would only be in your way
So I’ll go, but I know
I’ll think of you every step of the way

And I will always love you
I will always love you
You, my darling you, hm

Bittersweet memories
That is all I’m taking with me
So, goodbye
Please, don’t cry
We both know I’m not what you, you need

And I will always love you
I will always love you, you

I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of
And I wish to you joy and happiness
But above all this, I wish you love

And I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I, I will always love you

You, darling, I love you
Ooh, I’ll always, I’ll always love you

Songwriters: Dolly Parton