Sunday Morning Coming Down
Johnny Cash · Sings His 20 Best
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 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 canyon
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.
Sunday Morning Coming Down
Johnny Cash's 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' stands as a defining track from his 1972 album 'Sings His 20 Best.' Recorded during a pivotal era in his career, the song exemplifies his signature blend of country storytelling and gospel-infused soul. The recording captures Cash's distinctive vocal texture, characterized by a hushed, intimate delivery that contrasts with the driving rhythm of the arrangement. Released alongside other classics like 'It Ain't Me, Babe,' this work reinforced his reputation as a master of the American Songbook, bridging the gap between traditional country and the emerging soul movement. The track remains a staple of his discography, celebrated for its emotional depth and its ability to convey complex human narratives through simple, evocative instrumentation.
