While she had been playing guitar since childhood, it wasn’t until 2015 that Oladokun quit her job and took a shot at realizing her dream of making music full-time. She dropped a solo acoustic EP, Cathedrals, that year, and followed it up with 2016’s Carry, a full-band effort that included the single “Shelter,” which introduced her to a wider online audience.
Raised in a small rural community in Arizona, Joy Oladokun began playing guitar when she was ten years old. Inspired by artists like Tracy Chapman, Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, and singer/songwriters of the ‘70s, Oladokun began writing songs but initially had no intention of pursuing music as a career, preferring to perform for family and friends, sometimes writing them new tunes as gifts. After completing college, Oladokun got a job and was planning to settle into her new position when a friend asked her what she would be doing if money were not a consideration. Oladokun replied writing songs and traveling, and her friend urged her to follow her muse before it was too late.
Oladokun relocated to Los Angeles, and initially landed gigs as a backing vocalist while she honed her craft and played occasional solo shows. In April 2015, Oladokun released a solo acoustic EP, Cathedrals, and later that year launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money to record a full-length album. Oladokun was able to raise more than her $30,000 budget, and Carry, featuring backing from a full band, was released in April 2016. Full of personal, emotionally powerful songs, Carry helped Oladokun expand her audience, and she followed it up with touring in the United States and the United Kingdom. The fiercely independent Oladokun continued to record and release new material in a series of singles, with “Memphis” appearing in October 2016, “No Turning Back” in April 2017, and “Sober” in June 2018.
Sunday
Joy Oladokun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah ah ah (Mmm, mmm)
Ah ah ah
Mama says I'm up to no good again
Couldn't make her proud though I did my best
I feel like I'm a mess
I feel like I'm stuck in the wrong skin
But I'm having trouble swallowing my medicine
Ah ah ah
Sunday, carry me, carry me down to the water
Wash me clean
I'm still struggling
Ah ah ah
Sunday, bury me under the weight of who you need me to be
Can't you see
I'm struggling
Ah ah ah
Mmm, mmm
Ah ah ah
I keep God locked in a picture frame
So I feel a little better 'bout my numbered days
Yeah I confess
The questions and the answers seem to sound the same
I'm just like the rest
Standing tall pretending not to be afraid
Ah ah ah
Sunday carry me, carry me down to the water
Wash me clean
I'm still struggling
Sunday bury me under the weight of who you need me to be
Can't you see
I'm struggling
Ah ah ah
Sunday come around, lift me up again
Never too proud for a helping hand
I've been feeling down
Can you hear me now? (Ah ah ah)
Sunday come around, lift me up again
I'm never too proud for a helping hand
I've been feeling down
Can you hear me now?
Sunday carry me, carry me down to the water
Wash me clean
I'm still struggling
Ah ah ah
Sunday bury me under the weight of who you need me to be
Can't you see
I'm struggling
Ah ah ah
Aah, ah-ah-ah
Aah, ah-ah-ah (Ah ah ah)
Aah, ah-ah-ah
Aah, ah-ah-ah (Ah ah ah)
The lyrics of Joy Oladokun's "Sunday" convey a sense of feeling overwhelmed and lacking in direction. The first few lines suggest that the singer is struggling to meet the expectations of her mother and is feeling inadequate despite trying her best. She feels trapped in her own skin and is struggling to accept herself. The lines "I feel like I'm sick/But I'm having trouble swallowing my medicine" may suggest that she recognizes that she needs help, but is finding it hard to accept it. These feelings of inferiority and uncertainty are further emphasized by the repetitively haunting "ah" sounds.
The chorus of the song draws on religious imagery, with the singer wishing to be cleansed and renewed. She yearns for the peaceful and healing experience of being by the water on a Sunday. However, instead of being uplifted by this experience, she feels crushed under the weight of societal expectations. She feels like she is being judged and is expected to be someone else, someone who meets others' expectations. The singer may be facing an internal conflict between what she truly wants and who she is expected to be, resulting in her feeling lost and burdened.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama says I'm up to no good again
Mama thinks I'm misbehaving once more
Couldn't make her proud though I did my best
I worked hard to impress her, but she wasn't pleased
I feel like I'm a mess
I'm emotionally disordered
I feel like I'm stuck in the wrong skin
I don't feel comfortable in my own body
I feel like I'm sick
I feel unwell
But I'm having trouble swallowing my medicine
I find it challenging to accept advice given to me
Sunday, carry me, carry me down to the water
On Sunday, I want to be taken to the water and be rejuvenated
Wash me clean
I want to be purified
I'm still struggling
I'm still having problems even after trying to overcome them
Sunday, bury me under the weight of who you need me to be
I want to be transformed to meet your expectations
Can't you see
Don't you notice my struggle?
I keep God locked in a picture frame
I only see God through a limited perspective
So I feel a little better 'bout my numbered days
I'm at peace with the fact that I'll die someday
The questions and the answers seem to sound the same
I can't distinguish between what is right and what isn't
I'm just like the rest
I'm similar to everyone else
Standing tall pretending not to be afraid
I'm trying to be brave even though I'm scared
Sunday come around, lift me up again
I need to be encouraged again on Sunday
Never too proud for a helping hand
I'm open to receiving assistance from others
I've been feeling down
I'm unhappy and depressed
Can you hear me now?
Do you understand my struggle?
Writer(s): olubukola ayodele oladokun
Contributed by Ellie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JoyOladokun
momma says i’m up to no good again
couldn’t make her proud though I did my best
I feel like a mess
I feel like i’m stuck in the wrong skin
I feel like i’m sick
but I’m having trouble swallowing my own medicine
Sunday
carry me
carry me down to the water
wash me clean
I’m still struggling
Sunday
bury me
under the weight of who you need me to be
can’t you see
I’m struggling
I keep God locked in a picture frame
so I feel a little better about my numbered days
yeah I confess
the questions and the answers seem to the sound the same
I’m just like the rest
standing tall pretending not to be afraid
Sunday come around
Lift me up again
Never too proud
For a helping hand
I've been feeling down
Can you heal me now
@JoyOladokun
momma says i’m up to no good again
couldn’t make her proud though I did my best
I feel like a mess
I feel like i’m stuck in the wrong skin
I feel like i’m sick
but I’m having trouble swallowing my own medicine
Sunday
carry me
carry me down to the water
wash me clean
I’m still struggling
Sunday
bury me
under the weight of who you need me to be
can’t you see
I’m struggling
I keep God locked in a picture frame
so I feel a little better about my numbered days
yeah I confess
the questions and the answers seem to the sound the same
I’m just like the rest
standing tall pretending not to be afraid
Sunday come around
Lift me up again
Never too proud
For a helping hand
I've been feeling down
Can you heal me now
@c.danielfoster8028
I had a spiritual "mother" who was more of a mom than my biological mom ever was. This song and the lyrics "momma says I'm up to no good again. Couldn't make her proud, though I did my best." This line always cuts my heart because it's so relatable. Unfortunately, I realized how conditional this "mother's" love was when I came out, but not surprising since she led me through years of conversion therapy.
I can imagine that this line was born out of pain too. Wishing you healing on your journey Joy! Was great seeing your posts about Times Square! Keep going! We need more Black Queer Energy in the world and culture!
@squirrelcovers6340
Beautiful
@sherryfaye6262
You break my 58 year old heart. I didn’t want anyone to suffer for the same reasons our child hearts did decades ago. Maybe I should rejoice in your beautiful spirit and talent, and just be grateful that now your voice can be heard anywhere and everywhere. God has blessed you to touch so many. Please know people hear you and will help you if tell us.
@soulnurse3833
This song is AMAZING! LOVE IT, YOU ROCK JOY!
@soulnurse3833
can't stop listening to this, +I'm hooked :)
@sharonpeppers3341
I feel very confident of #Jehovah's love for me. He made me. His #love for me is tremendous. I am his #creation. He will never leave or forsake me. Of this, I am extremely confident.
@Nate-cg9mm
Amen! You are a form of God. As long as you're ok with that there's nothing to fear.
@blackgold6495
momma says i’m up to no good again
couldn’t make her proud though I did my best
I Hope your mom is proud of you now because you are impacting lives. Love all the way from Nigeria. Almost in 2024 and Im still Jamming Joy Oladokun. I feel you are a part of me and i thank you for speaking on my behalf where my words cant. Keep Going !💌
@ohgeeeznotagain
The line "Bury me under the weight of who you need me to be" absolutely knocked the wind out of me. AWESOME song!!!