Comments on: Great Lyrics Series: Sunday Morning Coming Down-Updated with audio and Video

By: Milwaukee Vital Statistics

Milwaukee Vital Statistics — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:26:49 +0000

This site covers almost identical stuff… That’s strange…

By: ron szweda

ron szweda — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:11:28 +0000

How can you beat this song? And I don’t see the surprise in a Rhoades Scholar like Kris K. writing this. With a sharp mind like he has, all he need do is focus on something in his soul and out comes poetic genius. Then, dropping down in J. Cash’s back yard in a helicoptor with this song, why, that is poetry in and of itself. Cheers to Kris and his endearing talents. Next time we’ll talk of Bobby McGee and Take the Ribbon from my Hair. See what I mean? Genius from A to Z. You go, Kris!!!!1

By: Robby

Robby — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:27:22 +0000

Emma, you are probably correct. I think it is "of the sidewalks." I just didn’t proofread the lyrics before posting. Thanks for your thoughtful response.

By: Emma

Emma — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:55:22 +0000

I think that Kristofferson (along with Paul Simon) ranks among the greatest (and most scarily prophetic) of modern poets. Kristofferson’s "Sunday morning’ coming down" is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry ever written. The hissing sibilance gives at once a jarring sense of the real world hitting a hangover, and at the same time a haunting sense of wistfulness, a craving for what was once and can never be again (the cosiness of the family, the sense of belonging, the love all explained in the simple phrase "the Sunday smell of someone frying chicken" – can’t you just smell it?!)
One note – in the lyrics you’ve posted, you write the words to the chorus as:
Half as lonesome as the sound,On the sleeping city sidewalks:Sunday morning coming down.
I don’t know, and apologies to Kristofferson if I’ve got it wrong, but surely the word "on" should be "of" – are we not being reminded that the sound the city sidewalks make is silence, thus isolating our "hero" even more. I think this would fit in more with the personification of the "sleeping city sidewalks". Otherwise, we don’t know what "the sound" is. Sorry if this sounds pedantic, but I just adore this song, and have done ever since I first heard it over 25 years ago. I’d like to know if this alteration to the lyrics is correct.

By: Billy Hollis

Billy Hollis — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:23:51 +0000

Anybody who thinks country music is simple blarney ought to try their hand at songwriting. Hey, it can’t be that hard, right? Hah! Here in Nashville, the failed songwriters are trying every job from dishwasher to shoe salesman to keep body and soul together looking for the “hit”.

There’re everywhere – I’ve seen them in almost every company I’ve ever worked for. In some cities, you’d expect wannabee novelists in technical writing positions, but here it’s more often songwriters.

So it’s just not as easy as it sounds to craft a country song. I don’t even like country music, but I can see with my own eyes how hard it is. Any of you who doubt it, put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and craft that ultimate country song. Then honestly compare it to the better lyrics that get recorded and realize that what you’ve written is most likely hackneyed junk.

By: A Second Hand Conjecture » Blogging Under the Influence or “BUI”

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:22:28 +0000

[...] What about my co-bloggers? Robby? No, he drinks no more. Omar? Doesn’t drink for it is haram. Keith? Too few posts to tell yet. Michael? Heh, I’ll let him answer that! I am sure glasnost and Pogue have an opinion though. [...]