| John Prine – He Forgot That It Was Sunday Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Probably just something off the top of Prine's imagination. Other possiblility: In the song, a bored devil sits alone in the entry-way (vestibule) of a dusty, empty cathedral playing pocket pool--perhaps a game of marbles. The empty cathedral is a picture of modern American religion. The irony is that this devil has apparently come to steal souls away from within the church, but turns out nobody's even there; they've all forgotten that it was Sunday because they've in many ways turned to the more mundane and universal joys and pursuits of everyday life: the rails of human industry running into eternity, the joys of human conversation and fellowship over a cracker barrel, the childlike grace and sacredness of humming Christmas carols together. And most have faith that these common things will all "meet up together one day" that is in some sort of final heavenly redemption or conclusion. For these cherished everyday joys of life, the ordinary folk have en mass moved beyond the walls of the song's archaic cathedral. Their perspective on life has changed and they have thus forgotten that it was Sunday. In essence, for some of them everyday has become Sunday and everyday has become a cherished day. Moreover, in so living their lives, they have discovered a fundamental and personal inspiration much as Charlie Parker (in the song) spontaneously played his horn at all hours simply for the joy of playing it. The teddy bear--a lifeless, stuffed animal--represents the unenlightened" audience of mass humanity who don't "get it," see through plastic eyes, and can't comprehend what it is that makes someone pick up a trumpet or a paintbrush or a pen and actually dare to dream. "I could have been a contender" the teddy bear sadly laments. Don't be the bear! Come out of your cave! Ironically, the devil for his part at the end of the song has also apparently forgotten that it was Sunday. For his part, he has become a bit trite and obsolete himself in the song, because he's forgotten that in this day and age fewer are actually present within the dusty cathedral for him to ensnare. He's lost his focus and is absently playing a solitary game of pocket pool, obsessing on the conventional rules of the game---the traditional rule of the game: that the opponent gets to keep whatever targeted pool balls happen to fall into a pocket other than what was expected. God wins the souls who in faith and inspiration find him OUTSIDE of any previous era's lifeless traditions. As the Bible says, we must "keep in step with the spirit." And that's my interpretation of the song. |
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