Today is the first day of the rest of our lives
Tomorrow is too late to pretend everything's alright, now
I'm not gettin' any younger as long as you don't get any older
I'm not gonna say that yesterday never was

Bloodshot deadbeat and lack of sleep
Makin' your mascara bleed
Tears down your face, leavin' traces of my mistakes
When I say

If I promise go to church on Sunday
Will you go with me on Friday night?
If you live with me, I'll die for you and this compromise

I hereby solemnly swear to tell the whole truth
And nothin' but that truth is what I'll ever hear from you, now
Trust is a dirty word that comes from such a liar
But respect is something I will learn if you have faith

Bloodshot deadbeat and lack of sleep
Making your mascara bleed
Tears down your face, leaving traces of my mistakes
When I say

If I promise go to church on Sunday
Will you go with me on Friday night?
If you live with me, I'll die for you and this compromise
If I promise go to church on Sunday
Will you go with me on Friday night?
If you live with me, I'll die for you and this compromise

Let's go

Oh, oh, oh
Oh-oh, oh

If I promise go to church on Sunday
Will you go with me on Friday night?
If you live with me, I'll die for you and this compromise
If I promise go to church on Sunday
Will you go with me on Friday night?
If you live with me, I'll die for you and this compromise
And this compromise
Yes, I'll compromise


Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Church on Sunday Lyrics as written by Frank E. Billie Joe Armstrong

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Church on Sunday song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

72 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    Jesus H. Fucking Christ, Billie isn't jewish. Some of you go off on the most bizarre tangents at times.

    As to the meaning, here it is from the horse's mouth: In a NY Rock interview from 2000 Billie says, "Church on Sunday deals with compromises in the relationship I have with my wife. You have to compromise in every relationship. If you want it to work out you've always got to look ahead, have a future in front of your eyes and work on your relationships, no matter if they're with your partner or with friends. There will always be problems, but you've got to find solutions, or at least try to find solutions. I really hope there is a solution for every problem".

    Here's the URL if you want to read the whole thing. nyrock.com/interviews/2000/gd_int2.htm

    tovangaron February 06, 2005   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I like the domestic abuse interpretation. Below is what I thought before I read that one. I'm not putting this forward as a definate interepretation, more of an alternative for you to look at.

    I see this as a political song. Greenday is singing as the Conservative movement in the United State. Essentially they're argueing that the coalition of the religious right and the Republican party is a 'compromise', although if they agree to 'live together' (e.g., the religious right votes Republican, and the Republican party throws them a few scraps of meat every so often), they'll 'live and die' for it - well the Republican party was definately alive a while ago, and it looks like Greenday were very prophetic, as what brought down the Republicans in '08 was the religious right (personified in Sarah Palin as veep candidate).

    djbthirteenon May 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hey you have some of te lyrics wrong, my b/f has the cd, and he always listens to this song, and he said this song is fer me, and i read the lyrics form his book, and theya re wrong, so i was just letting you know, in a lil while i will post the right ones up, ok, buh bye--nat

    natnatnat666on April 20, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ok well i tried to make a lil better change, lol

    natnatnat666on April 20, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is great, and especially because it's so easy to play on guitar. But 'Warning' is full of those songs, and I when I put it on, I just grab my guitar, tune it up and play along. Love Green Day contact me: sander_spider@hotmail.com

    Geeky_Dawgon May 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is one of the only songs on the warning cd that i can actually listen to. its so cute :)

    Madame Meon May 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the first i heard this song i really wanted to go to church on sunday with my mom. but this so is so cool

    MxPxGuyon July 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think its basically about that he's hurt this girl a made her cry 'making your mascara bleed' and he's saying he's sorry and he'll do anything to see her on friday night including going to church on sunday

    terraryzinon August 24, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    great song, possibly best on the warning album

    GreenDayisaNFGon August 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    amazing song that i can get away with playing at a small christian school in michigan because it talks about church

    kten80on September 03, 2002   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.