Tell Me on a Sunday
Sarah Brightman feat. Cliff Richard Lyrics

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Don't write a letter when you want to leave
Don't call me at 3 a.m. from a friend's apartment
I'd like to choose how I hear the news
Take me to a park that's covered with trees
Tell me on a Sunday please

Let me down easy
No big song and dance

No long faces, no long looks
No deep conversation
I know the way we should spend that day
Take me to a zoo that's got chimpanzees
Tell me on a Sunday please

Don't want to know who's to blame
It won't help knowing
Don't want to fight day and night
Bad enough you're going

Don't leave in silence with no word at all
Don't get drunk and slam the door
That's no way to end this
I know how I want you to say goodbye
Find a circus ring with a flying trapeze
Tell me on a Sunday please

Don't want to fight day and night
Bad enough you're going
Don't leave in silence with no word at all
Don't get drunk and slam the door
That's no way to end this
I know how I want you to say goodbye

Don't run off in the pouring rain
Don't call me as they call your plane
Take the hurt out of all the pain

Take me to a park that's covered with trees
Tell me on a Sunday please

Overall Meaning

The song "Tell Me on a Sunday" by Sarah Brightman and Cliff Richard is a heart-wrenching ballad about a lover's wish to be informed about their impending breakup in a sensitive and considered way. The lyrics warn against a range of insensitive tactics that might be employed to signal the end of a relationship, from the cowardly act of leaving without a word to the melodramatic gesture of fighting and slamming doors. Instead, the singer of the song asks that her partner take her to a place that is peaceful and beautiful, such as a park covered with trees or a zoo that has chimpanzees, and to make a kind and quiet announcement that the relationship is over. She suggests that she "knows the way" that they should spend the day, in order to soften the blow of what is clearly a painful separation.

The song is notable for its focus on communication and empathy in the face of a difficult situation. Instead of escalating the drama of a breakup, the lyrics urge a calm and compassionate approach that shows respect for the other person's feelings. The song's call for thoughtful communication and mutual understanding makes it a touching and timeless melody that still resonates with listeners today.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't write a letter when you want to leave
Please don't opt for the easy way out by writing me a letter, instead tell me in person that you want to leave the relationship.

Don't call me at 3 a.m. from a friend's apartment
I deserve better than to receive a phone call at an inconvenient time from someone who is trying to end our relationship.

I'd like to choose how I hear the news
Out of respect for our relationship, please allow me to hear the news of your departure in a proper and composed manner.

Take me to a park that's covered with trees, Tell me on a Sunday please
Please break the news to me gently, take me to a peaceful location and tell me on a Sunday when I am in a good mood.

Let me down easy
Please be gentle when breaking the news to me and help me process the hurt that I will be faced with.

No big song and dance
Please avoid making a big fuss when breaking the news to me as it will only make things harder for both of us.

No long faces, no long looks
I don't want any long, drawn-out facial expressions or prolonged eye contact, let's keep it simple and straight to the point.

No deep conversation
I don't want to have a long, philosophical conversation around this, let's keep it short and sweet.

I know the way we should spend that day, Take me to a zoo that's got chimpanzees, Tell me on a Sunday please
I have a plan on how to make the conversation easier, we can spend time at the zoo that has chimpanzees and you can break the news in a gentle way on Sunday.

Don't want to know who's to blame, It won't help knowing
I don't want to point fingers or blame anyone, it won't help us move on or heal faster.

Don't want to fight day and night, Bad enough you're going
I don't want to fight and argue about this decision, it's hard enough accepting that you are leaving me.

Don't leave in silence with no word at all
Please don't leave me without any explanation or words to help me understand your decision.

Don't get drunk and slam the door
Please don't end our relationship by getting drunk and slamming the door, it's not the right way to handle things.

That's no way to end this
Let's end our relationship in a dignified and respectful manner that honors the good times we have shared together.

I know how I want you to say goodbye, Find a circus ring with a flying trapeze, Tell me on a Sunday please
I have pictured in my head how I want you to break the news, find a circus ring with a flying trapeze and tell me on a Sunday when I am in the right headspace to handle it.

Don't run off in the pouring rain
Please don't make a dramatic exit by running away from me in the pouring rain, it's not necessary.

Don't call me as they call your plane
Don't call me right before you board your flight to leave, it will only accentuate the pain of your departure.

Take the hurt out of all the pain
Do what you can to make the pain of our separation easier to handle.

Take me to a park that's covered with trees, Tell me on a Sunday please
Let's end things on a good note by taking me to a park that's covered with trees and tell me on a Sunday which is a great day for me to cope with the news.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RODNEY WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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