Sun Comes Up
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sun comes up, it's Tuesday morning
Hits me straight in the eye
Guess you forgot to close the blind last night
Oh, that's right, I forgot, it was me

I sure do miss the smell of black coffee in the morning,
The sound of water splashing all over the bathroom,
The kiss that you would give me even though I was sleeping,
But I kind of like the feel of this extra few feet in my bed
Telephone's ringing, but I don't answer it
'cause everybody knows that good news always sleeps till noon

Guess it's tea and toast for breakfast again
Maybe I'll add a little T.V. too
No milk! God, how I hate that
Guess I'll go to the corner, get breakfast from Jenny
She's got a black eye this morning, `Jen how'd ya get it?'
She says, `Last night, Bobby got a little bit out of hand'

Lunchtime. I start to dial your number
Then I remember so I reach for something to smoke
And anyways I'd rather listen to Coltrane
Than go through all that shit again

There's something about an afternoon spent doing nothing
Just listening to records and watching the sun falling
Thinking of things that don't have to add up to something
And this spell won't be broken
By the sound of keys scraping in the lock

Maybe tonight it's a movie
With plenty of room for elbows and knees
A bag of popcorn all to myself,
Black and white with a strong female lead
And if I don't like it, no debate, I'll leave

Here comes that feeling that I'd forgotten
How strange these streets feel
When you're alone on them
Each pair of eyes just filled with suggestion
So I lower my head, make a beeline for home
Seething inside

Funny, I'd never noticed
The sound the streetcars make as they pass my window
Which reminds me that I forgot to close the blind again
Yeah, sure I'll admit there are times when I miss you
Especially like now when I need someone to hold me
But there are some things that can never be forgiven




And I just gotta tell you
That I kinda like this extra few feet in my bed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cowboy Junkies' "Sun Comes Up It's Tuesday Morning" are about a woman who is waking up alone and reflecting on her life after a breakup. The sun hitting her straight in the eye symbolizes the harsh reality of being alone. She misses the little things like the smell of black coffee, the sound of water splashing, and the kiss that she used to get, but she also likes the extra space in her bed. Efforts like tea and toast and cigarettes provide her solace. She remembers her abusive past relationship and realizes that she doesn't need to be with someone who, in the past, hurt her or that she has to forgive.


The song progresses in time, from morning until night. At lunchtime, she longs to call her ex-partner but remembers how bad that usually ends up, so she settles for music. In the afternoon, she watches the sun sets while listening to records, and she does not care if it has any significance or not. In the evening, she goes to a movie alone and decides that she enjoys having the liberty to leave if she wants. She walks home alone, realizing for the first time the unfamiliar sounds happening around us every day, feeling strange and afraid as she remembers that she left the blinds open again.


The song is a quiet meditation on loneliness and self-discovery that defies traditional love song conventions. It speaks to those who have experienced heartbreak, ruminating on the joy and freedom in being alone, all while acknowledging the lingering pain of past relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

Sun comes up, it's Tuesday morning
It's morning again and a new day is starting.


Hits me straight in the eye
The sun is bright and shining right into the singer's eyes.


Guess you forgot to close the blind last night
The singer assumes that someone else forgot to close the blinds the night before.


Oh, that's right, I forgot, it was me
The artist realizes that they were the one who forgot to close the blinds.


I sure do miss the smell of black coffee in the morning,
The artist reminisces about the comforting smell of coffee in the morning.


The sound of water splashing all over the bathroom,
The singer remembers the familiar sound of water splashing in the bathroom during the morning routine.


The kiss that you would give me even though I was sleeping,
The singer thinks back to the sweet kiss they used to get from their partner, even when they were asleep.


But I kind of like the feel of this extra few feet in my bed
Despite missing their partner, the artist enjoys having more space in their bed.


Telephone's ringing, but I don't answer it
The phone is ringing, but the artist chooses not to answer it.


'cause everybody knows that good news always sleeps till noon
The artist believes that good news doesn't usually come until later in the day.


Guess it's tea and toast for breakfast again
The singer expects to have a simple breakfast of tea and toast.


Maybe I'll add a little T.V. too
The artist considers watching television while eating breakfast.


No milk! God, how I hate that
The singer is annoyed that there is no milk for their tea.


Guess I'll go to the corner, get breakfast from Jenny
The singer plans to go to a nearby corner store to get breakfast from Jenny.


She's got a black eye this morning, `Jen how'd ya get it?'
The singer notices that Jenny has a black eye and asks her how she got it.


She says, `Last night, Bobby got a little bit out of hand'
Jenny tells the artist that her partner Bobby caused her injury.


Lunchtime. I start to dial your number
The artist thinks about calling their partner around lunchtime.


Then I remember so I reach for something to smoke
The singer remembers that they are no longer with their partner and reaches for a cigarette.


And anyways I'd rather listen to Coltrane
The singer decides they would rather listen to music than call their ex-partner.


Than go through all that shit again
The artist doesn't want to deal with the emotional trauma of contacting their ex-partner.


There's something about an afternoon spent doing nothing
The artist enjoys the peacefulness of a lazy afternoon spent doing nothing.


Just listening to records and watching the sun falling
The artist spends their afternoon listening to music and watching the sunset.


Thinking of things that don't have to add up to something
The singer likes to daydream and think about things that don't necessarily have to have a purpose or meaning.


And this spell won't be broken
The artist feels content in their moment of relaxation and doesn't want it to end.


By the sound of keys scraping in the lock
The singer doesn't want the peace to be disturbed by someone coming home and unlocking the door.


Maybe tonight it's a movie
The singer thinks about going to the movies that evening.


With plenty of room for elbows and knees
The singer looks forward to having plenty of space in the theater to be comfortable.


A bag of popcorn all to myself,
The artist is excited to have a whole bag of popcorn to themselves.


Black and white with a strong female lead
The artist describes the type of movie they would prefer to see that night.


And if I don't like it, no debate, I'll leave
The singer doesn't feel guilty about leaving the movie early if they don't enjoy it.


Here comes that feeling that I'd forgotten
The singer experiences a feeling they had forgotten about.


How strange these streets feel
The artist finds the streets to be unfamiliar and odd.


When you're alone on them
The artist feels uneasy walking on the streets by themselves.


Each pair of eyes just filled with suggestion
The artist is aware of the suggestive looks they are getting from strangers on the street.


So I lower my head, make a beeline for home
The singer tries to avoid eye contact and hurries home.


Seething inside
The artist is feeling angry and upset inside.


Funny, I'd never noticed
The singer realizes they had never noticed something before.


The sound the streetcars make as they pass my window
The singer is hearing the sound of streetcars passing by their window.


Which reminds me that I forgot to close the blind again
The sound of the streetcars reminds the singer that they forgot to close the blind yet again.


Yeah, sure I'll admit there are times when I miss you
The artist acknowledges that they do miss their ex-partner at times.


Especially like now when I need someone to hold me
The artist feels lonely and wishes they had someone to comfort them.


But there are some things that can never be forgiven
The singer has been hurt by their ex-partner and believes some things are unforgivable.


And I just gotta tell you
The singer wants to communicate something important to their ex-partner.


That I kinda like this extra few feet in my bed
The artist enjoys having more space in their bed now that their ex-partner is gone.




Lyrics © PAZ JUNK MUSIC INC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Edward Timmins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@martienevers

Sun comes up, it's Tuesday morning
Hits me straight in the eye
Guess you forgot to close the blind last night
Oh, that's right, I forgot, it was me

I sure do miss the smell of black coffee in the morning,
The sound of water splashing all over the bathroom,
The kiss that you would give me even though I was sleeping,
But I kind of like the feel of this extra few feet in my bed
Telephone's ringing, but I don't answer it
'cause everybody knows that good news always sleeps till noon

Guess it's tea and toast for breakfast again
Maybe I'll add a little T.V. too
No milk! God, how I hate that
Guess I'll go to the corner, get breakfast from Jenny
She's got a black eye this morning, `Jen how'd ya get it?'
She says, `Last night, Bobby got a little bit out of hand'

Lunchtime. I start to dial your number
Then I remember so I reach for something to smoke
And anyways I'd rather listen to Coltrane
Than go through all that shit again

There's something about an afternoon spent doing nothing
Just listening to records and watching the sun falling
Thinking of things that don't have to add up to something
And this spell won't be broken
By the sound of keys scraping in the lock

Maybe tonight it's a movie
With plenty of room for elbows and knees
A bag of popcorn all to myself,
Black and white with a strong female lead
And if I don't like it, no debate, I'll leave

Here comes that feeling that I'd forgotten
How strange these streets feel
When you're alone on them
Each pair of eyes just filled with suggestion
So I lower my head, make a beeline for home
Seething inside

Funny, I'd never noticed
The sound the streetcars make as they pass my window
Which reminds me that I forgot to close the blind again
Yeah, sure I'll admit there are times when I miss you
Especially like now when I need someone to hold me
But there are some things that can never be forgiven
And I just gotta tell you
That I kinda like this extra few feet in my bed



@mayagogo

Sun comes up, it's tuesday morning
Hits me straight in the eye
Guess you forgot to close the blind last night
Oh, that's right, I forgot, it was me

I sure do miss the smell of black coffee in the morning
The sound of water splashing all over the bathroom
The kiss that you would give me even though I was sleeping
But I kind of like the feel of this extra few feet in my bed
Telephone's ringing, but I don't answer it
'cause everybody knows that good news always sleeps till noon

Guess it's tea and toast for breakfast again
Maybe I'll add a little t.v. too
No milk! god, how I hate that
Guess I'll go to the corner, get breakfast from jenny
She's got a black eye this morning, 'jen how'd ya get it? '
She says, 'last night, bobby got a little bit out of hand'

Lunchtime. I start to dial your number
Then I remember so I reach for something to smoke
And anyways I'd rather listen to coltrane
Than go through all that shit again

There's something about an afternoon spent doing nothing
Just listening to records and watching the sun falling
Thinking of things that don't have to add up to something
And this spell won't be broken
By the sound of keys scraping in the lock

Maybe tonight it's a movie
With plenty of room for elbows and knees
A bag of popcorn all to myself
Black and white with a strong female lead
And if I don't like it, no debate, I'll leave

Here comes that feeling that I'd forgotten
How strange these streets feel
When you're alone on them
Each pair of eyes just filled with suggestion
So I lower my head, make a beeline for home
Seething inside

Funny, I'd never noticed
The sound the streetcars make as they pass my window
Which reminds me that I forgot to close the blind again
Yeah, sure I'll admit there are times when I miss you
Especially like now when I need someone to hold me
But there are some things that can never be forgiven
And I just gotta tell you
That I kinda like this extra few feet in my bed



All comments from YouTube:

@frankabney5850

30 years... wow. I'm 66 now and been listening to and loving
the Junkies all that time

@MrPoodleguy

I first saw & heard the CJ’s on the Johnny Carson Tonite show. Been a fan ever since!!

@jforeman4111

some people are just ahead of the curve man :)

@regularnimnule9715

You too? 🤛🤛👍

@CarpenterTom1

Welcome to an age I never thought I`d see myself

@exarmyofficer

...cause everybody knows good news always sleeps 'til noon. Best lyric in the song.

@hayleys1260

Why a low key epic classic. I heard this song all the time when I was a little girl and now it's on my playlist in my early 40's. Not many songs I can ay that about.

@kenvarnold3659

Love this group...and this is one of my favorites of theirs...

@dankaradave

I thank this group of musicians and staff and production . . . I feel this . . . thank you)

@olivierdenantes

It was my third album bought in 1990, after « The Trinity Session" and "Whites Off Earth Now!! »: I was 20 years old, I had just discovered your music. As a French, I could never thank you enough for having had the idea of ​​integrating the lyrics into this beautiful album: the opening on the A side of this album with this song remains marked forever and my memory of the listening, accompanying you while singing is always so lively and full of emotions. Thank you very much for your music. With all my heart.

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