Thinking in Lyrics (February)
- Feb 25
- 1 min read
by Jan Hansen
I often find myself thinking in song lyrics. This is one in a series of short articles about some songs and a few of the thoughts that they prompt in me. None of these songs were written for a faith-based setting, but all of them have some elements that relate to faith, philosophy, or world view.
Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)
Initially, I understood this song to be from the perspective of a person who couldn’t accept that his partner had left him and is so self-centered that he won’t leave her alone. Then a friend told me of an interview that he had seen with the songwriter, who said that it was about his relationship with alcohol, and in the depths of his drinking he found that his life had no light in it unless he was drinking. Either way you look at it, this is a song about an unhealthy relationship.
So many people have been hurt by faith groups. For me this song is a reminder of the hurt that has been caused in the name of faith, prompts me to ponder both how that relationship can be made better, and what can be done to avoid the hurt in the first place.
You can listen to the song by following this link:
