Sunday is gloomy
My hours are slumberless
Dearest the shadows
I live with are numberless

Little white flowers
Will never awaken you
Not where the black coach
Of sorrow has taken you

Angels have no thoughts
Of ever returning you
Would they be angry
If I thought of joining you

Gloomy Sunday

Gloomy is Sunday
With shadows I spend it all
My heart and I
Have decided to end it all

Soon there'll be candles
And prayers that are said I know
Let them not weep
Let them know that I'm glad to go

Death is no dream
For in death I'm caressin' you
With the last breath of my soul
I'll be blessin' you

Gloomy Sunday

Dreaming, I was only dreaming
I wake and I find you asleep
In the deep of my heart here

Darling, I hope
That my dream never haunted you
My heart is tellin' you
How much I wanted you
Gloomy Sunday


Lyrics submitted by shadowwiththeeyes

Gloomy Sunday Lyrics as written by Rezso Seress Laszlo Javor

Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Gloomy Sunday song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    This is the so-called "Hungarian Suicide Song". It was written by 2 Hungarian composers, and is about the dead girlfriend of one of them (read the lyrics, it seems pretty obvious it's about a dead lover). After the song wsa recorded, it supposedly resulted in suicides all over Hungary (including that of one of the composers) and was banned there. That's when a bunch of American singers covered the song. This is about the most famous version, probably because Billie Holiday is one of the few people who had a voice that could capture the mood and feeling of the song. This also is supposed to have caused suicides all over America, and got banned there too.

    shadowwiththeeyeson December 23, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Gloomy Sunday was written by a single Hungarian Composer after a horrible breakup. His Girlfriend wanted him to get a proper job but he continued to chase his dream of becoming a composer. She broke it off and consequently one Sunday, Serres (I think that's how you spell it), wrote this song. Originally it was turned down, the record company saying that it's melancholic sound was beautiful and haunting but it would not be a big seller.

    Eventually, it was taken up by another company. Not long after, a spate of suicides were linked with the song. Some of the deceased were found with Sheet Music of the song, or were found with the Record Player still going on the song.

    Then the body of Serres' girlfriend was found, she had poisoned herself and in her suicide note had written the words of the song. Serres later jumped off a bridge and took his own life.

    Since his death, Gloomy Sunday has been attributed to many suicides, eventually it was banned from the airwaves, except for the instrumental version, when even this version was found playing in the home of a woman who had committed suicide it was also banned.

    The song is obviously about a man who has lost the woman he views as his soul mate, it is an extremely sad song who many people seem to be able to relate to. It has been covered by many artists, the best I believe is by Sarah McLachlan (after Billie Holiday of course) and the worst... Bjork... She tried to sex up the song... It just didn't work...Thank you, enjoy.

    moredhelon December 24, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Awesome song. Billie Holiday has the creepiest, beautiful voice ever.

    werummon February 13, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I'm not surprised that after hearing this song people commited suicide. Isn't it like the saddest song ever? But for me - it's also one of the most beautiful love songs. The one you love has died and you are devastated, there's no hope - the only option you have is to kill yourself so that you can be with him... :'-(

    Angels have no thoughts of ever returning you Wouldn’t they be angry if I thought of joining you?

    I heard many versions of it. It's obvious that Billie's version's the best but I also like the one by Heather Nova.

    LucyInTheSkyWithRHon May 19, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Fantastic and depressing song. The last verse there is just so horribly inappropriate for the song... It just infuriates me.

    PS. To be fair, Seress killed himself a good while after the death of his girlfriend and the release of this song. The song has never officially been linked to as a cause of suicide.

    Solarioon August 13, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Sarah McLachlans version is my favorite. :)

    ashleyley92on January 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    You should hear the version of Diamanda Galas... It is with different words, almost acapella.It gives you the creeps...

    hellason April 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like Heather Nova's version the best. I hate the fact that the last verse is in there. For more info on the myths surrounding the song visit snopes.com/music/songs/gloomy.htm

    sippanon May 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Gosh... this song is depressing after listening to it over and over again. And I agreed, Billie Holidays' voice is...well... quite creepy for this song.

    MidnightEcstasyon June 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like Elvis Costello's version the best.

    gweepson October 25, 2006   Link

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