Sunday Shoes
Lady Lamb Lyrics
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to chase the wolves from your baby sister
who was eating dirt in the flowerbed near the house where your mother hung her head
and wept for the lord to fill her up like buttermilk pancakes at sunday brunch
the town was swept away in oceans of praise
with talk about how we're headed home
and how we'll all be held in the arms of the most selfless love
and the good that we have all done is already written down
you scuffed your sunday shoes when you leapt the fence
to save your sister from those hungry wolves
but you fell the wrong way yeah you broke your leg
and now the animals are turning their heads
they're turning-no now they're turning back they're turning back
to take you to their den and lick your bones
to take you down to their home and kiss all on your bones
but don't be afraid to go with them, don't be afraid to be carried home
the sky, it will open it up it will swallow you whole
but don't worry my love, it will feel so nice on your soul
so nice on your soul
you will be laid to rest by gentle hands and you will be sorely missed
by your mother and your father and you will become your most favorite color
and like the dinosaurs, discovered and laid to rest
like the dinosaurs puzzled over and laid to rest
like the dinosaurs pieced back together and laid to rest
so don't you fret for your baby sister now
The lyrics of Lady Lamb’s “Sunday Shoes” paint an evocative picture of a family struggling to find solace during turbulent times. The song begins with a description of a young boy leaping over a fence to save his baby sister from wolves while simultaneously damaging his Sunday shoes. The imagery is vivid and visceral, with the wolves representing the dangers and uncertainties of life while the boy’s torn shoes symbolize the sacrifices and hardships that must be endured for the sake of others.
The second verse shifts the focus to the community, describing a town swept away in oceans of praise as the residents talk about going home and being held in the arms of the most selfless love. The language is heavily steeped in religious imagery, with references to the Lord and buttermilk pancakes at Sunday brunch creating a sense of quaint Southern charm. There is also a sense of fatalism, with the idea that the good that we have done is already written down and we are all destined to become a phenomenon.
The final verse brings the focus back to the boy and his fate. Despite his valiant efforts to protect his sister, he falls the wrong way and breaks his leg, leaving him vulnerable to the wolves. However, rather than fearing them, he embraces the idea of being carried home by the animals and becoming his most favorite color, a metaphor for finding peace and acceptance in death. The song concludes with a message of hope for the boy’s family, urging them not to fret for his baby sister and implying that she will be able to navigate her own struggles in the same way her brother did.
Line by Line Meaning
you scuffed your sunday shoes when you leapt the fence
You damaged your best shoes while jumping the fence
to chase the wolves from your baby sister
To protect your little sister from the wolves
who was eating dirt in the flowerbed near the house where your mother hung her head
Who was playing on the flowerbed while your mother was sad and unhappy
and wept for the lord to fill her up like buttermilk pancakes at sunday brunch
And prayed for divine intervention to feel better
the town was swept away in oceans of praise
The town was engulfed in waves of adulation
with talk about how we're headed home
With people discussing going back to their eternal home
and how we'll all be held in the arms of the most selfless love
And how everyone will be embraced by an altruistic love
and the good that we have all done is already written down
And all the good deeds have been recorded beforehand
and we shall all become a phenomenon
And we all will achieve a legendary status
you scuffed your sunday shoes when you leapt the fence
You damaged your best shoes while jumping the fence
to save your sister from those hungry wolves
To rescue your sister from the perilous wolves
but you fell the wrong way yeah you broke your leg
But your fall resulted in a broken leg
and now the animals are turning their heads
And now the beasts are looking towards you
they're turning-no now they're turning back they're turning back
They are turning in the opposite direction, then changing their minds
to take you to their den and lick your bones
To take you or your bones to their lair and gnaw at it
to take you down to their home and kiss all on your bones
To take you to their abode and caress your bones
but don't be afraid to go with them, don't be afraid to be carried home
But don't be scared to leave and be escorted to your final destination
the sky, it will open it up it will swallow you whole
The sky will open up and absorb you entirely
but don't worry my love, it will feel so nice on your soul
But don't worry, it will bring comfort to your soul
you will be laid to rest by gentle hands and you will be sorely missed
You will be buried tenderly and missed terribly
by your mother and your father and you will become your most favorite color
By your parents, and you will be remembered as your favorite color
and like the dinosaurs, discovered and laid to rest
Just like the dinosaurs, found and buried
like the dinosaurs puzzled over and laid to rest
Like the dinosaurs, whose death still confuses us, but now laid to rest
like the dinosaurs pieced back together and laid to rest
Like the dinosaurs, whose remains were put back together and finally buried
so don't you fret for your baby sister now
So don't worry about your little sister anymore
Contributed by Parker D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.