Sunday Morning People
Honey Cone Lyrics
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Sunday morning people,
Better listen to me (You better take heed)
You go to church on Sunday,
Hate your neighbor all week (Sunday morning people)
You can pray as loud as you can, now
(Sunday morning people)
Turn your back on your fellow man, now
You swear you're on the level
Then you shake hands with the devil
You got to help your brothers
Seven days a week
If peace and happiness is what you see
Sunday morning people
Practice what you preach
You can't go to church on Sunday
And hate your neighbor all week
You'll know the man upstairs is watching you
(Somebody's watching)
So, you call yourself and do things you don't wanna do
Like sharing with the poor
At the church door
'Cause every Sunday morning
You asked Him to forgive
But you go on saying, "Heaven, are you listening?"
Sunday morning people, whoo!
Sunday morning people, better listen to me
(You better take heed)
You go to church on Sunday,
Hate your neighbor all week
Let me tell you now
We were trying to get through the pearly gates
But for most of us, it's already too late
When your head starts to falter,
You head straight for the alter
Sunday morning people
It's better than you think (better than you think)
You can't go to church on Sunday
And hate your neighbor all week
Sunday morning people
Practice what you preach (practice what you preach)
You can't go to church on Sunday
And hate your neighbor all week
Oh, Sunday morning people
Sunday morning people
Practice what you preach
Sunday morning people
Practice what you preach
Sunday morning people
Practice what you preach
Sunday morning people
Practice what you preach
The lyrics of Honey Cone's "Sunday Morning People" warns against being hypocritical by going to church on Sunday and preaching peace and love, but then hating your neighbor all week. The song stresses the need to practice what is preached, to extend helpfulness and love to others as a valid expression of religiosity, and to live uprightly and honestly.
The song captures a recurrent theme of protest music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as it highlights social issues, particularly the problem of hypocrisy in religious institutions. It expresses a message that religious practice ought to result in kindness, social justice, and love for all people rather than just a superficial display of it as part of conforming to social norms.
In the song, the idea is to inspire listeners to do good works on a day-to-day basis rather than just on Sunday morning, emphasizing the importance of consistent values and positive behavior. It encourages individual responsibility for creating a society with peace and happiness, urging listeners to work towards such ideals by helping their fellow people.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunday morning people,
Addressing those who attend religious services on Sunday mornings
Better listen to me (You better take heed)
Pay attention to this advice
You go to church on Sunday,
Attend religious services on Sunday
Hate your neighbor all week (Sunday morning people)
Act unkindly towards your neighbor throughout the week
You can pray as loud as you can, now
Pray loudly
(Sunday morning people)
Addressing those who attend religious services on Sunday mornings
Turn your back on your fellow man, now
Ignore the needs of the people around you
You swear you're on the level
You claim to be honest and sincere
Then you shake hands with the devil
You make a deal with someone who is not trustworthy
You got to help your brothers
You must provide assistance to your fellow human beings
Seven days a week
Every day of the week
If peace and happiness is what you see
If you desire peace and happiness
Sunday morning people
Addressing those who attend religious services on Sunday mornings
Practice what you preach
Act in accordance with your beliefs and teachings
You can't go to church on Sunday
Attending religious services on Sunday is not enough
And hate your neighbor all week
You must treat your neighbor kindly throughout the week
You'll know the man upstairs is watching you
You will be aware that God is observing your actions
(Somebody's watching)
Referring to God watching over us
So, you call yourself and do things you don't wanna do
You must act in accordance with your beliefs and teachings, even if it is difficult
Like sharing with the poor
One of the actions that is required of us is helping those in need
At the church door
In the place of worship
'Cause every Sunday morning
Each and every Sunday morning
You asked Him to forgive
You request forgiveness from God
But you go on saying, "Heaven, are you listening?"
You continue to question whether God is paying attention to your actions
Let me tell you now
Listen to this advice
We were trying to get through the pearly gates
We aspire to enter heaven
But for most of us, it's already too late
Many of us are already beyond redemption
When your head starts to falter,
When you start to lose your way
You head straight for the alter
You turn to your religion for guidance
Sunday morning people
Addressing those who attend religious services on Sunday mornings
It's better than you think (better than you think)
It is more important than you realize
Practice what you preach (practice what you preach)
Act in accordance with your beliefs and teachings
Oh, Sunday morning people
Addressing those who attend religious services on Sunday mornings
Writer(s): EDYTHE WAYNE, RONALD DUNBAR
Contributed by Victoria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
liveandmore
So glad I found this song. I used to listen to it in the mid 70's. I LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing!
jonnyjaywick
I remember Sir Norm playing this at Good Times at the Big Chill in about 2008. Still Fresh.
Pocketbeat House
The YT rabbit hole brought me here 🐇 Thank you for that 🙏 Love the music 🖤
chris edwards
Sounds like Eddie hazel on guitar it's a fact that funkadelic did session work for Invictus because George Clinton wasn't paying them properly
Vince Klortho
Kinda like Some Preachers by Bishop Bullwinkle!