I’m willing and able/
So I throw my cards on your table!

I feel like a cooler title to this song would be “This is Love!” Listen to Marley’s feelings about the woman. He says he wants to treat her right, share his bed, spend time with her, provide for her and he wants to love her–and he is ready and able. Why is he asking “Is This Love”? He clearly is in love. Perhaps he is simply hesitant. Declarations of love—that is, putting yourself out there to potentially be rejected—is difficult.

Marley is the only reggae artist on this list. It really shows how much his art transcends genres. I wonder how this song would sound with no percussion and just an acoustic guitar? I think it would make a great soft-rock song. That is not to say that the song is not great as it is, I am merely suggesting that the melody is so good that the arrangement for “Is This Love?” could go in many different directions and this would still be an all-time great song.

Is This Love? Lyrics

I want to love you
I want to love you, and treat you right
I want to love you, every day and every night

I want to love you, and treat you right
I want to love you, every day and every night

We’ll be together, with a roof right over our heads
We’ll share the shelter, of my single bed
We’ll share the same room
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I’m feelin’?

I want to love you, and treat you right
I want to love you, every day and every night
We’ll be together, with a roof right over our heads
We’ll share the shelter, of my single bed
We’ll share the same room
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I’m feelin’?

Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I’m feelin’?
I want to know, want to know, want to know now

Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I’m feelin’?
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I’m feelin’?
I want to love you

Songwriters: Bob Marley

No one, no one, no one/
Can get in the way of what I’m feeling.

Alicia Keys’ “No One” is a piano driven song, made great by Keys’ beautiful voice. Hearing Keys sing this song with just the piano is amazing. The version on the record is good too. It adds a synthesizer and additional sounds and beats but I don’t think the end product is necessarily better than the stripped down version. In a sense, the single is over-produced. Each version is great its own way.

The message of Key’s “No One” is straightforward. It is a declaration of love: no one and nothing can get in the way of the way she feels about her new love. Keys delivers these lyrics with meaning. We believe the feeling she has and that she is expressing.

Keys sings with passion and we believe her that she has found “No One” like her current lover. This is a great love song and a great showcase for Key’s talented vocals and piano chops.

No One Lyrics

I just want you close
Where you can stay forever
You can be sure
That it will only get better

You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don’t worry ’cause
Everything’s gonna be alright
People keep talking, they can say what they like
But all I know is everything’s gonna be alright

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I’m feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

When the rain is pouring down
And my heart is hurting
You will always be around
This I know for certain

You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don’t worry ’cause
Everything’s gonna be alright
People keep talking, they can say what they like
But all I know is everything’s gonna be alright

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I’m feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you
Can get in the way of what I feel

I know some people search the world
To find something like what we have
I know people will try, try to divide something so real
So ’til the end of time, I’m telling you there ain’t no one

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I’m feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you
Oh oh oh oh

written by Alicia Keys

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