The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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 the 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 words 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
I don't want to fight day and night
bad enough you're going
Don't leave in silence with no words 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 that hurt out of all the pain
Take me to a park that's covered with trees
Tell me on a Sunday please
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 the 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 words 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
I don't want to fight day and night
bad enough you're going
Don't leave in silence with no words 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 that hurt out of all the pain
Take me to a park that's covered with trees
Tell me on a Sunday please
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Tell Me on a Sunday Lyrics as written by Donald Black Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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