Gretchen Peters (born November 14, 1957 in Bronxville, New York) is an Amer… Read Full Bio ↴Gretchen Peters (born November 14, 1957 in Bronxville, New York) is an American singer-songwriter in the folk/country genre. An accomplished song-writer, she won the Country Music Association Song Of The Year award in 1994 for "Independence Day", a hit at the time for Martina McBride. She was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014.

Though born in New York, Peter's was raised in Boulder, Colorado, and then moved to Nashville in the late 1980s. There, she found work as a songwriter, composing hits for Martina McBride, Etta James, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Anne Murray, as well as for Neil Diamond and co-writing songs with Bryan Adams. She has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song, in 1995 and 1996, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 2003.

Peters has released a string of studio albums of her own. The title track of her 1996 debut album The Secret of Life was later recorded by Faith Hill in 1999.

In the case of her new album, 'Blackbirds,' "juice" is certainly understatement. Recorded in Nashville, the album features a who's who of modern American roots music: Jerry Douglas, Jason Isbell, Jimmy LaFave, Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey, Suzy Bogguss and more. But it's not the guests that make 'Blackbirds' the most poignant and moving album of Peters' storied career; it’s the impeccable craftsmanship, her ability to capture the kind of complex, conflicting, and overwhelming emotional moments we might otherwise try to hide and instead shine a light of truth and understanding onto them.

'Blackbirds' is, in many ways, an album that is unafraid to face down mortality. But rather than dwell on the pain of loss, the music finds a new appreciation for the life we're given.

If anyone can open up that conversation, it's Peters. Inducted into the prestigious Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, she has long been one of Music City's most beloved and respected artists, known never to shy away from darkness and struggle in her writing. Martina McBride's recording of her stirring "Independence Day," a song that deals with domestic abuse, was nominated for a Grammy and took home Song of the Year honors at the CMAs, and her work has been performed by everyone from Etta James and Neil Diamond to George Strait and Trisha Yearwood. "If Peters never delivers another tune as achingly beautiful as 'On A Bus To St. Cloud,'" People Magazine wrote, "she has already earned herself a spot among country's upper echelon of contemporary composers."

'Blackbirds' follows Peters' 2012 album 'Hello Cruel World,' which NPR called "the album of her career" and Uncut said "establishes her as the natural successor to Lucinda Williams." If anything, though, 'Blackbirds' truly establishes Peters as a one-of-a-kind singer and songwriter, one in possession of a fearless and endlessly creative voice.

Sunday Morning
Gretchen Peters Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

there's a dog a'barking
there's no sunday parking
no standing nine to noon
and the air is breezy
and the day breaks easy
and the traffic hums a tune

there's a sunday paper

and a sleepy neighbor
and a cat curled at your feet
there's a breakfast frying
and a baby crying
and your smile is all I need

and we're talking (and i love to hear you)
and we're laughing (and i love to see you)
and we're taking time and making love so sweet
and the birds sing (i can hear them singing)
and the bells ring (i can hear them ringing)
and it's Sunday morning up and down my street

where the sidewalk's broken
there's a cafe open
people spilling out the door
and you're softly hummin'

and the day is comin'
when we won't be sad no more

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gretchen Peters's song "Sunday Morning" paint a vivid picture of an idyllic scene on a lazy Sunday morning. The singer describes the quiet, peaceful atmosphere that is only occasionally interrupted by the sound of a barking dog and the hum of traffic. There is no Sunday parking, but there is the comfort of a sleepy neighborhood and a feline friend to keep your feet warm. The singer notes that their smile is all that is needed to make the morning perfect.

As the song progresses, the singer shares the simple joys of that Sunday morning with their partner. They listen to each other talk and laugh as they make love so sweet. The birds are singing outside and the bells are ringing. The singer describes the scene on their street with a broken sidewalk and the open cafe overflowing with people. The romantic atmosphere is palpable as the singer talks about the soft humming of their partner and the realization that there is no need for sadness anymore.

The song paints a picture of the beauty of the small things in life and how they can make an ordinary day feel extraordinary. It reminds us to take notice of the moments of happiness that we can share with those we love.

Line by Line Meaning

there's a dog a'barking
There is a dog somewhere in the neighborhood barking, probably signaling its owners about some activity or person nearby.

there's no sunday parking
The streets are so crowded on Sunday that finding a parking spot becomes impossible for most people.

no standing nine to noon
There is a parking regulation that forbids standing on the streets from nine to noon, so people need to avoid using their vehicles during that time.

and the air is breezy
The atmosphere is calm and refreshing, with a gentle breeze blowing through the surroundings.

and the day breaks easy
The sunrise is peaceful and unhurried, with the first rays of sunlight slowly breaking through the horizon.

and the traffic hums a tune
The sound of traffic is muted and uniform, creating a rhythmic and harmonious background noise.

there's a sunday paper
There is a newspaper published on Sundays, which people read leisurely at home.

and a sleepy neighbor
One of the neighbors seems to have not woken up yet at this time of the day, probably still sleeping off the weariness from yesterday.

and a cat curled at your feet
A feline pet is resting on the ground near you, curled up in a comfortable position to avoid the chill of the morning.

there's a breakfast frying
Someone is making breakfast in the neighborhood, producing the sizzling sound of food cooking on a pan.

and a baby crying
A newborn is crying somewhere nearby, a sound that evokes the strong emotional response of nurturing and compassion in humans.

and your smile is all I need
Your partner's happiness and joy are so essential to you that their mere smile is enough to make your day complete.

and we're talking (and i love to hear you)
You and your significant other are conversing, and you relish the sound of their voice, as it is pleasing to your ears.

and we're laughing (and i love to see you)
Both of you are laughing, and witnessing your partner's glee brings a lot of happiness and contentment to you.

and we're taking time and making love so sweet
You are spending quality time with your partner and enjoying each other's company, fostering intimacy and closeness between you.

and the birds sing (i can hear them singing)
The birds in the vicinity are chirping and singing, and the melody fills your ears, producing a peaceful and pleasant sensation.

and the bells ring (i can hear them ringing)
The sound of bells nearby is audible, signifying an upcoming church service or other religious ceremony.

and it's Sunday morning up and down my street
The entire street is vibrant and alive with activity, evoking a sense of community and togetherness.

where the sidewalk's broken
The pavement on the sidewalk is damaged and cracked, most probably from the wear and tear of years of use.

there's a cafe open
A nearby cafe has already opened for the day, and some people are already patronizing it.

people spilling out the door
The cafe is already full of customers, and some are already coming out of its doors due to lack of space.

and you're softly hummin'
Your partner is humming a tune softly, a sign of contentment and peace that you find endearing.

and the day is comin'
The day is still young, and there are many things yet to come, including more joy and love with your partner.

when we won't be sad no more
A future time is coming when the two of you will not be sad anymore, when everything will be perfect and complete, and all troubles left behind.

Writer(s): Gretchen Peters

Contributed by Elizabeth J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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