sunday
Joy Oladokun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴Ah ah ah (Mmm, mmm)
Ah ah ah (Mmm, mmm)
Ah ah ah
Mama says I'm up to no good again
Couldn't make her proud though I did my best
I feel like I'm a mess
I feel like I'm stuck in the wrong skin
But I'm having trouble swallowing my medicine
Ah ah ah
Sunday, carry me, carry me down to the water
Wash me clean
I'm still struggling
Ah ah ah
Sunday, bury me under the weight of who you need me to be
Can't you see
I'm struggling
Ah ah ah
Mmm, mmm
Ah ah ah
I keep God locked in a picture frame
So I feel a little better 'bout my numbered days
Yeah I confess
The questions and the answers seem to sound the same
I'm just like the rest
Standing tall pretending not to be afraid
Ah ah ah
Sunday carry me, carry me down to the water
Wash me clean
I'm still struggling
Sunday bury me under the weight of who you need me to be
Can't you see
I'm struggling
Ah ah ah
Sunday come around, lift me up again
Never too proud for a helping hand
I've been feeling down
Can you hear me now? (Ah ah ah)
Sunday come around, lift me up again
I'm never too proud for a helping hand
I've been feeling down
Can you hear me now?
Sunday carry me, carry me down to the water
Wash me clean
I'm still struggling
Ah ah ah
Sunday bury me under the weight of who you need me to be
Can't you see
I'm struggling
Ah ah ah
Aah, ah-ah-ah
Aah, ah-ah-ah (Ah ah ah)
Aah, ah-ah-ah
Aah, ah-ah-ah (Ah ah ah)
Overall Meaning
The lyrics of Joy Oladokun's "Sunday" convey a sense of feeling overwhelmed and lacking in direction. The first few lines suggest that the singer is struggling to meet the expectations of her mother and is feeling inadequate despite trying her best. She feels trapped in her own skin and is struggling to accept herself. The lines "I feel like I'm sick/But I'm having trouble swallowing my medicine" may suggest that she recognizes that she needs help, but is finding it hard to accept it. These feelings of inferiority and uncertainty are further emphasized by the repetitively haunting "ah" sounds.
The chorus of the song draws on religious imagery, with the singer wishing to be cleansed and renewed. She yearns for the peaceful and healing experience of being by the water on a Sunday. However, instead of being uplifted by this experience, she feels crushed under the weight of societal expectations. She feels like she is being judged and is expected to be someone else, someone who meets others' expectations. The singer may be facing an internal conflict between what she truly wants and who she is expected to be, resulting in her feeling lost and burdened.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama says I'm up to no good again
Mama thinks I'm misbehaving once more
Couldn't make her proud though I did my best
I worked hard to impress her, but she wasn't pleased
I feel like I'm a mess
I'm emotionally disordered
I feel like I'm stuck in the wrong skin
I don't feel comfortable in my own body
I feel like I'm sick
I feel unwell
But I'm having trouble swallowing my medicine
I find it challenging to accept advice given to me
Sunday, carry me, carry me down to the water
On Sunday, I want to be taken to the water and be rejuvenated
Wash me clean
I want to be purified
I'm still struggling
I'm still having problems even after trying to overcome them
Sunday, bury me under the weight of who you need me to be
I want to be transformed to meet your expectations
Can't you see
Don't you notice my struggle?
I keep God locked in a picture frame
I only see God through a limited perspective
So I feel a little better 'bout my numbered days
I'm at peace with the fact that I'll die someday
The questions and the answers seem to sound the same
I can't distinguish between what is right and what isn't
I'm just like the rest
I'm similar to everyone else
Standing tall pretending not to be afraid
I'm trying to be brave even though I'm scared
Sunday come around, lift me up again
I need to be encouraged again on Sunday
Never too proud for a helping hand
I'm open to receiving assistance from others
I've been feeling down
I'm unhappy and depressed
Can you hear me now?
Do you understand my struggle?
Writer(s): olubukola ayodele oladokun
Contributed by Ellie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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