The Meaning Behind The Song: Everyday Is Like Sunday by Morrissey
Morrissey, the former lead singer of The Smiths, is known for his lyrical poetry and unique vocal style. One of his most popular songs, “Everyday Is Like Sunday,” was released as a single in 1988, and it appeared on his debut solo album Viva Hate. The song’s melancholic tone and haunting melody have made it an enduring favorite among Morrissey’s fans. In this article, we will discuss the meaning behind the song, examining the lyrics and uncovering the themes that Morrissey explores in the song.
The Lyrics of “Everyday Is Like Sunday”
The lyrics of “Everyday Is Like Sunday” paint a vivid picture of a desolate seaside town, where the narrator wanders aimlessly, searching for meaning and purpose. The opening lines of the song set the tone:
“Trudging slowly over wet sand
Back to the bench where your clothes were stolen
This is the coastal town that they forgot to close down
Armageddon – come armageddon!
Come, armageddon! Come!”
These lines convey a sense of bleakness and despair, as the narrator returns to a place where he has experienced loss and theft. The reference to Armageddon suggests that the town is a wasteland, devoid of hope and salvation.
The refrain of the song is the phrase “Every day is like Sunday,” which repeats throughout the song like a mantra. This line suggests that life has lost its vitality and meaning, and that each day is unremarkable and empty. The chorus goes:
“Cause every day is like Sunday
Every day is silent and grey”
These lines further emphasize the sense of emptiness and ennui that pervades the song.
Themes in “Everyday Is Like Sunday”
The themes that Morrissey explores in “Everyday Is Like Sunday” are many and varied. At its core, the song is a meditation on the isolation and alienation that many people feel in modern society. The imagery of the deserted seaside town, with its closed shops and empty streets, evokes a sense of abandonment and neglect. The narrator, wandering alone through this desolate landscape, represents the lonely and disaffected individual who feels that they do not fit in with the world around them.
Another important theme in the song is the idea of lost innocence. The lines “back to the bench where your clothes were stolen” suggest that the narrator has been the victim of a crime, perhaps a mugging or a theft. This sense of violation and helplessness is compounded by the fact that the town has been forgotten and left to decay, as if it were a once-beautiful place that has fallen into disrepair. The idea of a lost paradise, a place where happiness and serenity were once possible but are no longer attainable, is a common theme in Morrissey’s work.
The song also explores the theme of boredom and routine. The repetition of the phrase “Every day is like Sunday” suggests that life has become monotonous and lacking in excitement. The narrator seems to long for something different, something that will break him out of his daily routine and give his life meaning. This sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction is something that many people can relate to, especially in the context of modern life, where we are often trapped in the same routines day after day.
FAQs About “Everyday Is Like Sunday”
1. What inspired Morrissey to write “Everyday Is Like Sunday”?
Morrissey has said that the song was inspired by his experiences visiting seaside towns in England. He was struck by the sense of desolation and decay that he observed in these places, and he was moved to write a song that expressed this feeling of loneliness and disaffection.
2. What does the title of the song mean?
The title of the song is a reference to the line from the poem “Hollow Men” by T.S. Eliot: “This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper.” The phrase “Every day is like Sunday” suggests that life has lost its drama and significance, and that each day is the same as the next.
3. Is there a music video for “Everyday Is Like Sunday”?
Yes, there is a music video for the song. Directed by Tim Broad, the video features Morrissey wandering through a desolate seaside town, interacting with various strange and unsettling characters.
4. Was “Everyday Is Like Sunday” a hit when it was first released?
Yes, the song was a top 10 hit in the UK when it was first released in 1988. It remains one of Morrissey’s most popular songs to this day.
5. What other songs are on Morrissey’s album Viva Hate?
In addition to “Everyday Is Like Sunday,” the album includes such songs as “Alsatian Cousin,” “Suedehead,” and “Hairdresser On Fire.”
6. Did The Smiths ever perform “Everyday Is Like Sunday”?
No, the song was written after Morrissey had left The Smiths, so the band never performed it live.
7. Have other artists covered “Everyday Is Like Sunday”?
Yes, the song has been covered by a number of artists over the years, including Billy Bragg, who recorded a version for a Morrissey tribute album, and Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, who performed the song on his solo tour.
8. What does the line “Come, Armageddon! Come!” mean?
The line is a reference to the biblical concept of Armageddon, which refers to a final battle between good and evil that will take place before the end of the world. In the song, it suggests that the narrator is so disillusioned with life that he is almost welcoming the idea of the apocalypse.
9. What is Morrissey’s vocal style like on “Everyday Is Like Sunday”?
Morrissey’s vocal style on the song is characteristically expressive and emotive. His voice is full of yearning and melancholy, which perfectly suits the tone of the song.
10. What is the significance of the seaside town in the song?
The seaside town represents a place that was once vibrant and full of life, but has now fallen into disrepair and neglect. It is a symbol of lost innocence and faded beauty, and serves to underscore the sense of melancholy and despair that pervades the song.
11. What other songs have Morrissey and Johnny Marr written?
Morrissey and Johnny Marr wrote many songs together as part of The Smiths, including such classics as “This Charming Man,” “How Soon Is Now?” and “Panic.”
12. Is Morrissey’s solo work as popular as his work with The Smiths?
While Morrissey’s solo work has been less commercially successful than his work with The Smiths, he has amassed a dedicated and loyal fan base over the years. Many of his solo albums have been critically acclaimed, and he has continued to tour and release new music to this day.
