Album: The Johnny Cash Show (1970)

Charted: 46

License This Song 

• Well, I woke up Sunday morning
  With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt
  And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad
  So I had one more for dessert
  Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes
  And found my cleanest dirty shirt
  Then I washed my face and combed my hair
  And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day
  
  I'd smoked my mind the night before
  With cigarettes and songs I'd been picking
  But I lit my first and watched a small kid
  Playing with a can that he was kicking
  Then I walked across the street
  And caught the Sunday smell of someone's frying chicken
  And Lord, it took me back to something that I'd lost
  Somewhere, somehow along the way
  
  On a Sunday morning sidewalk
  I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stoned
  'Cause there's something in a Sunday
  That makes a body feel alone
  And there's nothing short a' dying
  That's half as lonesome as the sound
  Of the sleeping city sidewalk
  And Sunday morning coming down
  
  In the park I saw a daddy
  With a laughing little girl that he was swinging
  And I stopped beside a Sunday school
  And listened to the songs they were singing
  Then I headed down the street
  And somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringing
  And it echoed through the canyons
  Like the disappearing dreams of yesterday
  
  On a Sunday morning sidewalk
  I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stoned
  'Cause there's something in a Sunday
  That makes a body feel alone
  And there's nothing short a' dying
  That's half as lonesome as the sound
  Of the sleeping city sidewalk
  And Sunday morning coming down Writer/s: Kris Kristofferson
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 33

• Kris from TnTo me the song is about a lifestyle of alcohol rather than just one night. This was a normal Sunday morning for him. Sunday mornings in the 60's was the loneliest time of all if you weren't in church. No one was on the streets and nothing was open, E\everything dead.
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenCash played the killer in an episode of "Columbo" just after this song was released and he sang it multiple times in it to increase sales.
• Philip from Highland InTo me this song has always been about depression. The man in the song is using drugs or alcohol to aleviate the problems of life. Which is only a temporary fix. The line it "took me back to something. That I lost somewhere so how along the way." Makes me think he misses the innocence of his childhood or his family or even having a family. He is lonely.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 18th 1969, "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" by Ray Stevens entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #94; it stayed on the chart for three weeks, peaking at #81...
  It reached #34 in Australia and #59 in Canada...
  He has had two #1 records on the Top 100 chart; "Everything Is Beautiful" for 2 weeks in 1970 and "The Streak" for 3 weeks in 1974...
  Between 1970 and 2002 he had thirty-three records on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
  Mr. Stevens, born Harold Ray Ragsdale, will celebrate his 76th birthday in three months on January 24th {2015}.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 23rd 1970, "Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Johnny Cash entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #62; and on September 27th, 1970 it peaked at #46 {for 1 week} and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
  And on October 4th, 1970 it reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart (was the 11th of 13th Number One records he would have on the Country chart between 1956 and 1976, plus he would have an additional 11 records peak at #2}...
  May the 'Man in Black'* R.I.P. {1932 - 2003}...
  *Note: His record titled "Man in Black" peaked at #3 on the Hot Country chart in 1971.
• Jack from Santa Rosa, CaI was 17 when training for the Vietnam war at Ft. Benning Ga. in 1966. Many times I would take a walk by myself on a Sunday morning trying to sweat out the 3.5 beer I drank Saturday night. I missed my mom , brother and sisters. I wondered what its all about. Then I would sadden up to the point that the only place to go was to the beer hall and start over again. Some time later this song came on line and to this day it moves me to tears because it talks to me and others. I came home from Vietnam but others "gave all"!
  When I got to know Jehovah I found out "what its all about"
• Tony from Vienna, WvI heard this song right before I went into the military in the early 1970's. I don't know why it moved me so much but it did. For me the song talks about our lost ways, and our lost times. Sunday morning coming down for those that have nothing to look forward to. God Bless Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.
• Syl from Moncton, NlRay Steven's version is my favourite ever.
• Daphne from Ohio Valley, OhPersonally, I prefer hearing Kristofferson himself singing the song. Cash's version is good and all but Kris's version is just completely devistating! His rough "whiskey voice" makes it all the more convincing. I'm so glad i'm not the only one who feels Kris is overlooked far too often when it comes to his songwriting. The man is absolutley BRILLIANT and took songwriting to an entirely new depth. To me, he's the BEST...hands down.
• Oldpink from New Castle, InNo fluff to be found here, nosiree!
  Damn, but didnt' Johnny's voice sound like an old steam locomotive coming down the tracks?
  Couple that booming bass voice with Kristofferson's haunting lyrics, and you have a timeless classic.
  Sometimes, the best words are those that really hit harder with contradiction, as on this one "So I fumbled through my closet/Through my clothes and found my cleanest dirty shirt"
  Simply brilliant!
  Another example from Roger Waters: "Well, you wore out your welcome/With random precision"
• Cd from Paragould Arkansas, Ar"And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more for dessert"
  
  In 1998 I began a ritual that I observe to this day. Every sunday morning I have one beer for breakfast and one mnore for dessert.
  Budweiser is my communion!
  Kristofferson was a rhoades scholar and one of the greatest songwriters ever. And only Cash could do this song justice!
• Leftykc from St Joseph, Mohe was told when he performed it live, not to use the word "stoned" but he did anyway...
• Nathan from Defiance, OhProof Kristofferson is one of the great songwriters this country produced. The whole feel of the song is very relatable and fits great with Cash's gritty style. Surely one of Cash's best songs. Why Kristofferson is relatively unknown to most music fans is a mystery.
• Robert from Tionesta, PaI was 14 years old when I heard this song.I was delivering papers that morning listening to my transistor radio.I immediately fell in love with it and it was the start of my fascination with Johnny Cash.A great man who overcame adversity and drug problems.I could write a book.Later I found out Kris wrote that song and automatically became a big fan of his of course.We miss you John,Waylon,June and many others.Kris,if you ever read this I saw a show with you in Pittsburgh in 74.You,Rita and Billy Swan.What a great show that was.ty for the memories
• Kurtiz from Oklahoma City, OkKris Kristofferson's orginal lyric was "I smoked so much the night before my mouth was like an ashtray i'd been licking".....AMaZIng SoNg
• Ashleigh from 47116, InI like this song because when I was a little girl my mom used to listen to it. Now I listen to it every Sunday morning on my way to work at the cracker barrel. It is one of my ways of reminiscing.
• Mark from Byrdstown, TnRay Stevens first recorded this song but it went nowhere.Who could visualize Stevens having the rep to record this song? No one.But when Cash released his live version recorded from his TV show it became a classic because Cash had lived it.Kristofferson is a damn genius,pure and simple.So was Johnny Cash.
• P.a. from Paris, FranceMy favourite Kristofferson song along with Me And Bobby McGee.
  If you love the song and the guy, I highly recommend "Beyond Nashville" the third episode of the BBC documentary LOST HIGHWAY.
  He tells the story of the song, how he gave a bunch of songs to Cash through his guitar player Luther Perkins.
  He even explains what happened at the TV show Troy is talking about in his comment...the song was recorded there to be cut straight to a record.
  Turned out to be the 1970 song of the year at the Country Music Awards...
• Adrian from Jacksonville, FlJohnny Cash eventually got a lot more than "religion" -- he personally got Jesus Christ in his heart, sang in my church and other churches all over, he's been on Billy Graham's platform many times -- he had a complete change of heart and life after becoming a Christian. "Any one who asks Jesus into their heart becomes a Christian, the old stuff stops and everything becomes new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
  "Sunday Morning (quit) Coming Down" after he was born over again! Adrian Travis
• Chuck from Oneida, NyAwesome song.. I live on the oneida reservation up here in new york and theres a man named larry who is a alcoholic and wont be afraid to admit it.. this song/cd is always on at his house and if you can explain this man it one song this would be it... The way johhny sings is like "hey i dont care if i sound good im just gonna sing" and thats a admirable thing... plus johhny cash was involved a lot in uncovering the governments involvments with native americans so i respect him for that.. chuck "two feathers" george
• Lill Kt from Sunny, NyI love this song because when I was little my dad used to wake me up to this song everyday when I would spend the night at his house. My dad is locked up now, not proud to say, but he is and this song means the world to me!!! So, if anyone loves this song, it would be me!!!
  RMA= KT, you will remember me when my name is in lights!!
• Brian from Chicago, IlWhen I hear this song I think about people who have struggled with addiction and how they talk about a "moment of clarity." It seems this could be one of those moments that Kristofferson wrote about. I'm shocked that Cash didn't write it because it just seems to fit him so well.
• Jon from Oakridge, OrGREAT SONG. One of Cashes best. Kudos to Kristofferson.
• Ashley from Ottawa, CanadaBeautiful imagery and well written lyrics. I feel a sense of lonliness and despair yet a yearning for change. Possibilities could be the inability to battle past trials and tribulations that are deep rooted. However, the band aid of drug abuse isn't helping the person. Although, this song was written by Kris Kristofferson, it eerily resembles Johnny Cash's life.
• Angela from Nashville, TnHonesty, pure honesty in these lyrics. Genuiness makes for great music, and this song definitly does that.
• Ariel from Denver, CoJohnny Cash...I feel ya. I love that no matter what song is playing you can just visualize the setting.
• Kevin from Canada, CanadaI perfom this great song. Its awesome when you growl ou the line "So I had one for dessert" It hit a minor chord there and it is truly an amazing song
• Priscilla from Lonelytown, TnThis is a pretty good song because there is something in a Sunday that makes a body feel alone.
• Jim from Warrington, EnglandThis is a fantastic song
• Clarence from Brunswick, GaKris Kristofferson is the greatest songwriter ever. This song pulls you in and makes you feel what is being said.
• Troy from Humphrey, Newhen Cash performed this song on his abc variety hour he was asked to sing "I'm wishin Lord that i was home" rather than the version that he sang which is "I'm wishin Lord that i was stoned." He thought that it was only right to Kris Kristofferson to sing it that way.
• Chris from Halifax, Canadathe most beautiful song in the world
• Andi from I Don't Like It Here, TxI really like this song! Really, Really like this song.

More Songfacts:

Soak Up The SunSheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow's "Soak Up The Sun" isn't as lighthearted as it seems: the song deals with the prevailing head-in-the-sand reaction to climate change.

Night ProwlerAC/DC

At the end of AC/DC's "Night Prowler," you hear Bon Scott say, "Shazbot, Nanu Nunu." Those were Robin Williams' sayings on his TV show Mork & Mindy. Scott was a big fan.

Whatta ManSalt-N-Pepa

Salt's "mighty good man" in the Salt-N-Pepa "Whatta Man" video is played by Tupac Shakur.

LightsEllie Goulding

Ellie Goulding's hit song "Lights" is about her fear of the dark, which forces the singer to sleep with the lights on.

Live ForeverOasis

The Oasis song "Live Forever" was written in response to "I Hate Myself And I Want To Die" by Nirvana. "Kids don't need to hear that nonsense," said Noel Gallagher.

Gangnam StylePsy

Psy's "Gangnam Style" refers to a section of Seoul, South Korea, that is very fashionable. The guy in the song has all the right moves and loves the ladies.

Editor's Picks

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.