I No Longer Run on Sunday Mornings
"Because there's something in a Sunday -- makes the body feel alone."
When most people see lower Broadway in Nashville, it's on a Friday or Saturday night. Tourists' cowboy boots and hats can be seen bobbing in and out of Tootsies and Full Moon Saloon while "Dixieland Delight" pipes through the smoke-filled air. Jack's Bar-B-Q teases the senses while the neon lights flicker, illuminating the street like a strip on Vegas.
But living downtown, I am able to see a whole other side of this exciting, booming, nightlife strip. Since I always enjoy taking a nice long run, one Sunday morning I laced up my shoes and headed out the door. I was curious as to what lower Broadway looked like at this time of hour and decided to incorporate it into my route.
The smell of stale beer still lingered in the air. The smiles, the laughter, the music -- all replaced by a few pitiful souls left roaming the street, in search of a stranger's discarded cigarette, hoping to score a couple puffs. I felt a deep pit within my stomach. It's the loneliest I've ever felt in Nashville.
I immediately thought of Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and how the poetic lyrics seemed to come to life. Each time I hear or watch him perform this song, it takes me back to that chilling vision. I was rounding the corner of Broadway, ready for my morning run and struck -- struck by the loneliness of a Sunday morning coming down. What a brilliant song.
"There ain't nothin' short of dyin'
Half as lonesome as the sound
On the sleepin' city sidewalks
Sunday mornin' comin' down"
I no longer run on Sunday mornings.
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Lil’ Lyle says:
If your alone on a Sunday Morning and enjoy great Country Music, go to http://www.jugcountry.com 6-10 AM California time.
Don’t forget to click listen live 8)
BethAnne Weatherford says:
I loved your article about why you no longer run on Sunday mornings. It was beautifully and sensitively written. I, too, have noticed the quiet sadness and loneliness in a number of cities during their down time, from Nashville to New York, Boston, and even Newport, RI. I’ll look forward to more of your blogs.
Emma says:
I have to agree with Bethanne Weatherford on this one. The stillness and quietness isn’t very appealing to a person. I’ve been all over the country, from Chicago to New York, to Boston to New Port. I adore the big cities but in the morning it just isn’t the same. At night it’s like a big party everyone is invited to but in the morning it is like an abondoned ghost town. All in all, the quietness has a little bit of character. I really can’t explain it but it fascinates me. Just to compare every city is something that I love to do. I looke forward to going to Nashville in the future. Keep writing blogs! :)
Kate says:
Beautifully written, Whitney. I love the words you use to describe the scene. I feel like you really took us there! Thanks for sharing this story and I love this Kris Kristofferson song!
Sandyvia MA says:
I have to disagree with Bethanne and Emma. The stillness of a Sunday morning is my best thinking time. Whether I am working or alone, listening to country music or at church. However I do agree with the article, it was nicely written.
sunkie says:
Wow, what a beautifully written blog; your writing make me ’stop and smell the roses’. Sad, some of the cultural ways of our country that also has a down side too. Sadness does have a way of creeping up on a soul when the lights dim and the music comes to a stand still like a warm sultry afternoon. It makes a person sometimes stop and thing about the loneliness that many of us experience. The note that struck me is that this can happen anywhere. One can be not only in the city, but small towns all around America as well. Thanks Whitney for getting to the soul of the song along with opening up your life to all of us who have come to love and appreciate the gifts that God has given to you to help communicate so many aspects of life that sometimes we ourselves know but have a hard time communicating the ideas.