As Cale remembered in a 2006 interview with Uncut:
"Lou and I had been up all night on crank, as usual, so we decided to visit one of his old Syracuse college pals. Unfortunately, this guy’s upper-middle-class wife didn’t appreciate visits from old college pals high on amphetamines, at 3am, who wanted to play music. He had a guitar which Lou picked up and the evening inspired him to write the song."
The most polished song on the album, “Sunday Morning” was released as a single in December 1966. MGM/Verve spent little, if any effort to promote it and it sunk, unnoticed, on release. However, it grew in popularity through radio play by DJs like John Peel and Dick Summer, sowing the seeds for the Velvets' cult following.
The band made a live version of the song for their last concert with Lou, on the album Live at Max’s Kansas City, where Reed introduces the song with: “This is a song about when you’ve done something so sad and you wake up the next day and you remember it. Not to sound grim or anything… just, once in a while, you have one of those days.”
This can bring another meaning to the song. A song of regret and, maybe, of a new dawn that would represent forgiveness (“[…]always some around you who will call. It’s nothing at all”).
Sunday Morning
Velvet Underground & Nico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brings the dawn in
It's just a restless feeling
By my side
Early dawning
Sunday morning
It's just the wasted years
Watch out the world's behind you
There's always someone around you
Who will call
It's nothing at all
Sunday morning
And I'm falling
I've got a feeling
I don't want to know
Early dawning
Sunday morning
It's all the streets you've crossed
Not so long ago
Watch out the world's behind you
There's always someone around you
Who will call
It's nothing at all
Watch out the world's behind you
There's always someone around you
Who will call
It's nothing at all
Sunday morning
Sunday morning
Sunday morning
Sunday morning
The song "Sunday Morning" by the Velvet Underground & Nico is an insightful, reflective and introspective song that touches upon various themes such as restlessness, wasted years and the inevitability of time. The first verse sets the tone for the song, as the singer awakens on a Sunday morning with a restless feeling by their side. The lyrics illustrate that despite the tranquility of a Sunday morning, there is a sense of unease and anxiety that accompanies it. The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that time waits for no one, and even though one might try to escape or ignore their past, it's always there, right behind them.
The second verse of the song draws upon the idea that life is fleeting, and every crossroad or street that one has crossed is a memory that is left behind. With the repetition of the chorus, the song emphasizes the importance of living in the present, and the recognition that the world will always be behind you, no matter what. As the song concludes, the repetition of the words "Sunday morning" leaves the listener with a sense of calmness, yet, at the same time, it's a reminder that the cycle of time never stops, and every day is a new beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunday morning
The start of a new day, representing hope and a chance for change.
Brings the dawn in
The sun rising and bringing light to the world, signifying a fresh start.
It's just a restless feeling
A feeling of unease and uncertainty about what the future holds.
By my side
Accompanied by someone or something, perhaps representing the past.
Early dawning
The start of the day, which could also be seen as the start of a new phase or chapter in one's life.
Sunday morning
Another repetition of the opening line, highlighting the significance of this day.
It's just the wasted years
Reflection on past experiences and opportunities missed or wasted.
So close behind
The past is not far away and continues to influence the present.
Watch out the world's behind you
Be cautious and aware of how past experiences and events can impact the present.
There's always someone around you
Others have an impact on our lives, and they too can be influenced by our past.
Who will call
Others will remind us of our past and the impact it has.
It's nothing at all
Despite this, the past should not consume us or define our present.
And I'm falling
Suggests a loss of control or direction, feeling like things are falling apart.
I've got a feeling
Intuition or an inner sense that something is not right.
I don't want to know
Denial or avoidance of facing an uncomfortable truth.
It's all the streets you've crossed
Referencing a path or journey taken, with all the experiences and encounters that come with it.
Not so long ago
The past is recent and still affects the present.
Sunday morning
Another repetition, emphasizing the significance of this day.
Watch out the world's behind you
A repetition of an earlier line, reinforcing the importance of being mindful of the past.
There's always someone around you
Another repetition, suggesting the constant influence of others on our lives.
Who will call
A reminder that others will remind us of the past and its impact on us.
It's nothing at all
Despite this, the past should not consume us or define our present.
Sunday morning
The final repetition, leaving the listener with a sense of the cyclical nature of life and the importance of embracing each new day.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE, LOU A. REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ancortes
Sunday morning
Praise the dawning
It's just a restless feeling
By my side
Early dawning
Sunday morning
It's all the wasted years
So close behind
Watch out the world's behind you
There's always someone around you
Who will call
It's nothing at all
Sunday morning
And I'm falling
I've got a feeling
I don't want to know
Early dawning
Sunday morning
It's all the streets you've crossed
Not so long ago
Watch out the world's behind you
There's always someone around you
Who will call
It's nothing at all
Watch out the world's behind you
There's always someone around you
Who will call
It's nothing at all
Sunday morning
@itsrainingmelons6202
Rebelliously listening to this on a Wednesday morning
@leonajarikj5227
try it on a monday
@t.yoshisaurmunchakoopas2318
Woah... What a rebel. I'm only watching this on a Sunday afternoon and I still feel like a law breaker.
@mostazastudios_
Same here
@frenchie43
Defiantly listening to this on a Thursday afternoon
@WilhelmWilder
My God...the alpha energy
@User-xw6kd
Remember, this is over 50 years old.
@SicklyHeavyHeart
You could’ve convinced me that this came out yesterday
@kyethemovieguy4243
You could have convinced me that this came out last Sunday morning
@rebeccafry3575
@@SicklyHeavyHeart it's really timeless, isn't it?