The group formed in 1981 as a trio consisting of Brad Merritt (bass), Ian Franey(drums), and Neil Osborne (vocals). In 1983, Phil Comparelli was added on guitar and vocals, and Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf. Matt Johnson replaced Neudorf on drums by 1986. The band announced in March of 2005 that Comparelli had officially passed on guitar duties to Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band.
The band's self-titled second album, released in 1986, began to attract attention from radio and record buyers across Canada, with the single "Baby Ran" gaining significant radio airplay. The band's third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits "One Gun" and "One Day in Your Life".
Although the band was popular on college radio in the United States, they never had a commercial breakthrough -- 1992's Dear Dear was their first album not to have a U.S. release. Ironically, though, it was their best-selling album in Canada, leading to a new U.S. contract for the follow up, Smilin' Buddha Cabaret, which had a significant hit in "Ocean Pearl".
The band's song I Go Blind was covered in the mid-1990s by American band Hootie & the Blowfish.
The band's most recent album is 2008's Northern Soul released September 30th,2008 and they wrapped up their tour of Canada at the end of November 2008.
Sunday Girl
54-40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I didn't know what to do one time without you
In every mess I find myself a friend
Getting off on the wrong side again
Am I part of your problem or on the side of solution
And all the curses ever spoken raise the power of confusion
I think I left my futures all behind
Sunday girl she shook me up
Sunday girl she freaked me out
Sunday girl she woke me from my sleep
And if a thousand slimy things can breathe, then why not me
What begins as fear always ends in folly
Last night I tasted life again
Last night I won and lost a friend
My island is so very peopled
Like girls and roses they only last while they last
The song Sunday Girl by 54-40 is a reflective piece about feeling lost and uncertain without the presence of someone significant in the singer's life. The opening lyrics set the tone of a dreary Sunday afternoon, with the singer feeling helpless and unsure of what to do without their loved one. They express the need for a friend to help them navigate the messy situation they find themselves in, but also acknowledge that they tend to end up on the wrong side of things.
The idea of being part of the problem rather than the solution is introduced, as well as the power of words and curses to create confusion. The singer admits to leaving their future behind and retreating into their own thoughts, perhaps as a coping mechanism. However, the arrival of the "Sunday girl" shakes them up and wakes them from their disconnected state. The lyrics imply that this person has a transformative effect on the singer, snapping them out of their funk and back into the world of the living.
The final verses of the song suggest that the singer's life is populated with people and experiences that are fleeting, like "girls and roses." They realize that things only last for a limited time, and that they must appreciate each moment fully. The overall message of Sunday Girl seems to be one of finding a way out of a dark place and into the light, with the help of someone who inspires and uplifts.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a Sunday afternoon, kind of wet, and cheerless
The singer describes a dull and gloomy Sunday.
And I didn't know what to do one time without you
The singer is lost without their companion.
In every mess I find myself a friend
The singer has a knack for finding allies in difficult situations.
Getting off on the wrong side again
The artist has a tendency to start things off in the wrong way.
Am I part of your problem or on the side of solution
The artist wonders if they are helping or hindering someone else's issues.
And all the curses ever spoken raise the power of confusion
The singer believes that negative words cause more chaos.
I think I left my futures all behind
The singer may have given up on their dreams and goals.
Retreating through the loop holes in my mind
The artist is escaping through their own thoughts.
Sunday girl she shook me up
The artist is affected by the Sunday girl's presence.
Sunday girl she freaked me out
The artist is startled by the Sunday girl's behavior.
Sunday girl she woke me from my sleep
The Sunday girl caused the singer to snap out of their daze.
And if a thousand slimy things can breathe, then why not me
The artist is reflecting on their own worth and existence.
What begins as fear always ends in folly
The singer believes that letting fear rule one's choices will lead to regret.
Last night I tasted life again
The singer experienced a profound moment.
Last night I won and lost a friend
The singer's relationship with someone became complicated.
My island is so very peopled
The artist's metaphorical refuge is full of other people.
Like girls and roses they only last while they last
The artist sees people and things as fleeting and temporary.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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