Sunday in the South
Sunday in the South: A Southern Symphony of Faith and Heritage
Lyrics
Mill worker houses lined up in a row,
Depicts a row of houses for mill workers.
Another southern Sunday morning blow
Describes a typical Sunday morning in the southern region.
Beneath the steeple all the people have begun
People have gathered beneath a church steeple.
Shakin' hands with the man who grips the gospel gun
Refers to greeting the preacher, symbolized as the "gospel gun."
While the quiet prayer, the smell of dinner on the ground
Describes a quiet prayer and the aroma of a communal dinner.
Heals up the morning air, ain't nothin' sweeter around
Suggests the healing and pleasant atmosphere of the morning.
I can almost hear my mama pray,
Expresses a personal connection, possibly nostalgic, to the mother's prayer.
"Oh lord forgive us when we doubt,"
A plea for forgiveness when doubts arise.
Another sacred Sunday in the south
Highlights the sacredness of Sundays in the southern tradition.
A ragged rebel flag flies high above it all
Mentions a rebel flag as a symbol of defiance or regional pride.
Popping in the wind like an angry cannon ball
Describes the flag flapping angrily in the wind.
The holes of history are cold and still,
Reflects on the cold and still remnants of historical events.
But they smell the powder burnin' and they probably always will
Suggests a lingering impact of past conflicts.
And on the old town square under the barber shop pole,
Depicts a scene on the town square with a barber shop pole.
They sat me up in the chair when I was four years old
Recalls a childhood experience of sitting in a barber's chair.
I can almost hear my papa say,
Personal connection to the father's words.
"Won't you hold still son, stop squirmn' around
Father's advice to be still, anticipating another sacred Sunday.
Another sacred Sundays coming down"
Blank line with no specific content.
I can almost hear the old folks say,
Recalls encouragement from old folks to leave town and succeed.
"You'll make it big one day, you'll leave this town,"
Encouragement to believe in future success and return home.
Some other lazy Sunday you'll come back around
Anticipation of returning on a lazy Sunday in the future.
I can feel the evening sun go down,
Visualizes the evening sun setting.
And all the lights in the houses one by one go out
Describes the houses' lights going out one by one.
Softly in the distance nothing stirs about
Portrays a quiet and still evening with no activity.
And the night is filled with the sound of a whippoorwill
Highlights the night's sound, represented by the whippoorwill.
On a Sunday in the south
Reiterates the setting as a Sunday in the South.
Comment