Damion used to be in a rock band of the pop rock persuasion, but at some point he began writing a collection of songs that felt rooted in Irish culture and bar drunk poetry. “These songs were birthed from pubs, drinks, and relationships,” He says. So he took this newly discovered collection and added in some classic Irish folk songs and began playing sets in Irish pubs all around Florida out of a hope that others would smile with him in the sorrow.
“I’ve always loved Irish Culture”, Damion says, “If you study it you’ll see heartbreak with a smile.” This mixture is evident in all of the songs on his self-titled debut on P Is For Panda Records. On the song San Francisco Damion sings of great love and what a waste it is all within the same breath. The chorus houses the line, “I gotta sing. I gotta shout. This world is tough. Boy, you should know if you love something let it go.” Tailgating on that line is yell from the mouth of a shot glass, “Watch it die.”
If you’ve ever searched out aged whisky to help you sort things out, then Damion will be your preacher. If you’ve held onto your friends and lovers like stolen money, then Damion’s self-titled album will be your holy book to keep at your side. It will remind you to smile when sadness comes crashing in because you have to have them both to live.
Sunday Morning
Damion Suomi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And keep me dancing still
That I may stay a sober man
Although I drink my fill.
Sobriety is a jewel
That I do much adore;
And therefore keep me dancing
Though drunkards lie and snore.
Keep dancing like a wave,
And under every dancer
A dead man in his grave.
No ups and downs, my pretty,
A mermaid, not a punk;
A drunkard is a dead man,
And all dead men are drunk."
Went to dinner with a bottle of wine
Drank it all in record time
I thought we′d stop
I thought we'd stop
The whiskey bottle under the sink
Was just enough to make us think
I thought we′d stop
I thought we'd stop
We drank all the way to Sunday morning
And we drank 'cause we had nothing else to do
Then we found a dirty, old bottle of gin
Mixed it with soda in a dirty old tin
And thought we′d stop
I thought we′d stop
But then the boys showed up with a bottle of beer
The room got shaky but it came in clear
I thought we'd stop
I thought we′d stop
We drank all the way to Sunday morning
And we drank 'cause we had nothing else to do
So we headed for the bar to make last call
But couldn′t see straight so we had to crawl
I thought we'd stop
I thought we′d stop
While the sun came up, we sipped champagne
My head, oh, was pounding but it killed the pain
I thought we'd stop
I thought we'd stop
We drank all the way to Sunday morning
And we drank ′cause we had nothing else to do
Still we drank all the way to Sunday morning
And we drank ′cause we had nothing else to do
So with my belly full and my soggy hat
I shook the dust from my feet, I went for bed
I thought we'd stop
I thought we′d stop
The empty bottle right beside my head
Said keep this up, and you'll soon be dead
I thought we′d stop
Oh, I prayed that we'd stop
We drank all the way to Sunday morning
And we drank ′cause we had nothing else to do
Still we drank all the way to Sunday morning
And we drank all the way to our graves
The lyrics to Damion Suomi's song "Sunday Morning" are about excessive drinking and the consequences that come with it. The first stanza is a poem about the importance of sobriety, warning against the dangers of drinking to the point of unconsciousness. The second stanza describes the singer's experience of drinking with friends, starting with a bottle of wine and progressing to hard liquor as the night goes on. Despite his initial thoughts of stopping, the singer and his friends continue to drink until Sunday morning, with nothing else to do but drink. The last stanza ends with the singer contemplating his own mortality and the consequences of his actions.
The use of poetry within the lyrics is significant, as it adds an extra layer of meaning to the song. The first stanza is from a poem by William Butler Yeats called "The Cap and Bells," in which a jester asks a mermaid to dance with him. The mermaid warns him of the dangers of drinking, but he ignores her and continues to dance. This parallels the singer's situation, as he is warned about the consequences of excessive drinking but continues to do it anyway. The reference to a dead man in every dancer's grave emphasizes the mortality of the human experience and the importance of making the most of the time we have.
The overall message of the song is to be mindful of our actions and their consequences, particularly when it comes to substance abuse. It highlights the dangers of drinking to excess and the impact it can have on our health and well-being. It also warns against using alcohol as a means of passing the time, highlighting the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life outside of vices like drinking.
Line by Line Meaning
Come swish around, my pretty punk,
Let's dance around and have fun, my darling.
And keep me dancing still
Keep the party going and our spirits high.
That I may stay a sober man
Despite the drinking, I want to remain clear-headed.
Although I drink my fill.
Even if I am drinking a lot.
Sobriety is a jewel
Staying sober is valuable and important.
That I do much adore;
I really appreciate being sober.
And therefore keep me dancing
By dancing, I can enjoy myself without getting too drunk.
Though drunkards lie and snore.
Even though other people may be getting too drunk and passing out.
O mind your feet, O mind your feet,
Be careful where you step while dancing!
Keep dancing like a wave,
Continue your dance movements, flowing and moving like a wave.
And under every dancer
Beneath every person who is dancing right now,
A dead man in his grave.
there is a man who has passed away and is buried underground.
No ups and downs, my pretty,
Let's not get too high or too low, my dear.
A mermaid, not a punk;
Let's keep it light and fun, like a mermaid.
A drunkard is a dead man,
When someone gets too drunk, they might as well be dead.
And all dead men are drunk.
All those who have passed away have reached an altered state of mind.
Writer(s): Damion Suomi
Contributed by Hailey Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.