Ed Sheeran is one of the biggest, if most unlikely, stars in the world of music. Sheeran may not look like a typical star, but he has the musical ability and soul of one. Sheeran’s unique talents have seen him work with many incredible artists over the years. Everyone from Taylor Swift to Beyonce has worked with Sheeran. He has real chops, and all the big stars know it. Sheeran is one of the greats.

That’s part of why it was so great to hear Sheeran cover the Bill Withers classic, “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Withers wrote the song after seeing the film Days of Wine and Roses. The repetition of the phrase, “I know,” perfectly encapsulates the longing and frustration that love can bring with it.

For Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine” was a career-making song. He wrote it when he was still working a day job in a factory that made toilets. After the song went gold, he was launched. Withers would go on to record other big hits including “Just the Two of Us.”

Sheeran performed the cover as a tribute. He did this most famously at the Just the Two of Us: A Tribute to Bill Withers concert at Carnegie Hall. However, Ed Sheeran also did a live cover with a horn section on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. This performance solidified Sheeran’s status as a musician to be reckoned with and introduced a younger generation to the music of Bill Withers.

What do you think of Ed Sheeran’s cover of “Ain’t No Sunshine”? Is it something you’d like your friends to know about? If so be sure to pass this article along to them so they can listen to Sheeran’s performance!