Context

This line is from the song "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers, from the album Just As I Am (1971).

When Bill Withers first sang these words in the famous Stax recording studios, he was actually working in a factory making toilet seats for airplanes. His career took off from there, and a year later he was polishing his Grammy for best R&B song. Fun fact: Bill didn't intend to leave the part in the song where he repeats "I know, I know, I know" a bunch times, but Booker T. of Booker T. and MGs convinced him to leave it as it was.

Good call, Booker T.

Check out the results here.

Where you've heard it

You've probably heard this famous line on one show or another. Maybe Scandal? Or CSI: NY? Monk? If not, the song was also used in the movies Munich, Notting Hill, and Old School. If none of that is ringing a bell, then maybe you remember the DMX song "Aint No Sunshine" where the rapper samples the original (naughty language alert!).

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

It's just a guy missing his girl—doesn't seem pretentious to us.