Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-… Read Full Bio ↴Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-songwriter from Akron, Ohio. He is known for his melodic compositions combined with swirling choruses. He was discovered by Peter Gabriel in the mid-'90s and signed to Gabriel's Real World label in 1996. Arthur's first album, Big City Secrets, was released in 1997 to critical acclaim.

In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.

Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.

Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.

Crying On Sunday
Joseph Arthur Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Crying on Sunday
After church
To wake up on Monday
Everything's worse.
Forgive me on Tuesday
Or live with the curse
Of crying on Sunday
After church.

We believe in redemption
Yet we follow regrets
To the ones we are trying always to love
And respect.
Crying on Sunday
The virgin gave birth
To wake up on Monday
Without her purse.
Destroy me on Tuesday
I only get worse
For crying on Sunday
After church.
I've never been so sure of love - love (repeated 4 times)
We believe in redemption
But we follow regret
To the ones we are trying always to love
And respect.
Crying on Sunday
After church
To wake up on Monday
Everything still hurts.
Forgive me on Tuesday
Or be damned with the curse

Of crying on Sunday
After church.

Overall Meaning

The song "Crying on Sunday" by Joseph Arthur reflects on the complex emotions that people experience in their relationships, particularly the feelings of regret, redemption, and love that cannot be easily reconciled. The lyrics suggest that people tend to make mistakes and feel remorse, even if they believe in the power of redemption and try to love and respect others. The song starts with the singer crying on Sunday after church, which sets the tone for a sense of guilt, introspection, and despair. The line "to wake up on Monday, everything's worse" suggests that instead of finding solace and comfort in religion or community, the singer feels more alone and lost than ever.

The song raises questions about faith, morality, and forgiveness, emphasizing how difficult it can be to reconcile our deepest beliefs and values with our flawed human nature. The line "the virgin gave birth to wake up on Monday without her purse" alludes to the biblical story of the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus, suggesting that even the most revered and holy figures in history had to face the challenges of daily life and the repercussions of their choices. The repetition of "We believe in redemption / Yet we follow regrets" underscores the tension between our aspirations and our limitations, and the struggle to find a path forward that honors both.

Overall, "Crying on Sunday" is a poignant and introspective song that captures the complexities of human relationships and the challenges of living up to our ideals. It reminds us that redemption is an ongoing process, and that the journey is often messy and painful, but ultimately worth the effort.

Line by Line Meaning

Crying on Sunday
Feeling emotional and vulnerable on Sundays.

After church
Specifically, feeling this way after attending religious services.

To wake up on Monday
To confront the reality of the new week.

Everything's worse.
Feeling that everything is more difficult or painful than before.

Forgive me on Tuesday
Asking for forgiveness from someone.

Or live with the curse
Otherwise face the negative consequences of their actions.

Of crying on Sunday
Of experiencing emotional vulnerability on Sundays.

We believe in redemption
We have faith in the possibility of being forgiven.

Yet we follow regrets
But we often continue to be burdened by past mistakes.

To the ones we are trying always to love
To those for whom we have deep affection, and want to treat well in spite of our mistakes.

And respect.
And who we want to hold in high regard.