"Closed On Sunday" (originally titled "Sunday"[1]) is the fourth track from Kanye West's ninth studio album, JESUS IS KING (2019).[2] It was later released as the album's second radio single on November 28, the same day the song's music video was released.[3] The song features uncredited vocals from A$AP Bari.[4] The song (and its title) refers to the Christian day of Sabbath, Sunday, the day of the week American food chain Chick-fil-A is closed on to observe it.[4]
The track has songwriting credits from both No Malice and Pusha T of Clipse, as well as Victory Elyse Boyd. The track is partly produced by famous producer Timbaland. The music video features vocals from the Sunday Service Choir, which are not heard in the streaming version of the song. Ye's daughter North also screams the final line.
Production[]
The song heavily samples Grupo Vocal Argentino's 2013 song, "Martín Fierro".[5]
Background[]
The first freestyle was initially recorded some time in April 2019 during a freestyle session with both Timbaland and AllDay for the album he had been working on as of then, Yandhi.[6] The song was shelved from this album and would not be worked on again until the following month when the album had been fully reworked into JESUS IS KING.
On June 18, the song's return was marked when Ant Clemons had recorded a reference over the beat intended for Kanye. Though most of the verses from this reference were replaced in further versions, his chorus did make the final cut.[7] On August 7, Kanye's collective the Sunday Service Choir recorded backing vocals for the song, though this feature was only used later in the music video version of the song.[8] On August 29, 2019, Kim Kardashian posted an early track list for JESUS IS KING, listing "Sunday" as the eleventh track.[1]
The song was further worked on throughout September with newly written references from Victory, Sia and both members of Clipse.[9] On September 28, a new track list was shared, moving the song to the fifth track.[10]
A$AP Bari would record for the song just a day before release.[11] On October 24, the song was officially released as the fourth track of JESUS IS KING. On November 27, a new version of the song featuring vocals from the Sunday Service Choir would be officially released via the music video to the song.
Remix[]
A remix of the song was planned to release on Ye and Dr. Dre's unreleased collaborative album, JESUS IS KING: The Dr. Dre Version with vocals from Anderson .Paak and an additional verse from Ye. However, neither the remix nor the album released.[12]
Music video[]
On November 27, 2019, Ye announced the premiere of the song's music video for the following day.[13] The video, directed by Jake Schreier, was filmed at Ye's mountain ranch in Wyoming.[14] In the video, Ye is seen with then-wife Kim Kardashian, North, Chicago. Saint, and Psalm sleeping on a rock formation. Towards the end of the video, new vocals from the Sunday Service Choir can be heard as they sing along with Ye. North also says the "Chick-fil-A" line at the end of the video.
Live performances[]
On October 25, 2019, Ye performed the song live with a band at the Oculus in Manhattan, with it airing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that same night. He also performed the song at the Kia Forum on November 1.
Lyrics[]
[Chorus]
Closed on Sunday, you're my Chick-fil-A
Closed on Sunday, you my Chick-fil-A
Hold the selfies, put the 'Gram away
Get your family, y'all hold hands and pray
When you got daughters, always keep 'em safe
Watch out for vipers, don't let them indoctrinate
Closed on Sunday, you my Chick-fil-A
You're my number one, with the lemonade
Raise our sons, train them in the faith
Through temptations, make sure they're wide awake
Follow Jesus, listen and obey
No more livin' for the culture, we nobody's slave
[Verse]
Stand up for my home
Even if I take this walk alone
I bow down to the King upon the throne
My life is His, I'm no longer my own
I pray to God that He'll strengthen my hand
They will think twice steppin' onto my land
I draw the line, it's written in the sand
Try me and you will see that I ain't playin'
Now, back up off my family, move your hands
I got my weapons in the spirit's land
I, Jezebel don't even stand a chance
Jezebel don't even stand a chance
[Outro]
Chick-fil-A
[Intro]
Every time I stand up
I feel that I'm standing up and drawing a line in the sand
And saying I'm here in service to God
No weapon formed against me
Shall prosper (Closed on—)
Uh, yes Lawd
[Verse 1]
Closed on Sunday (Sunday, Sunday)
You're my Chick-fil-A
Closed on Sunday (Sunday, Sunday)
You my Chick-fil-A
Hold the selfies (Selfies)
Put the 'Gram away ('Way)
Get your family (Family)
Y'all hold hands and pray
When you got daughters (Daughters)
Always keep 'em safe (Safe)
Watch out for vipers (Vipers)
Don't let them indoctrinate
Closed on Sunday (Sunday, Sunday)
You my Chick-fil-A
You're my number one (One)
With the lemonade
Raise our sons, train them in the faith (Faith)
Through temptations (Temptations)
Make sure they're wide awake
Follow Jesus (Jesus, Jesus)
Listen and obey ('Bey)
No more livin' for the culture, we nobody's slave (Slave)
[Refrain]
Stand up for my home
Even if I take this walk alone
I, bow down to the King upon the throne
My, life is his I'm no longer my own
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Verse 2]
Figured it won't be no one I give my life to (Life to)
All my life I never knew nobody like you (Like you)
Give it up to Christ, they told me trust Jesús (Jesús)
Trust fund for my sons and get them safe too
I was sleeping with the heathen
Medicated like I came up in the psych ward (psych ward)
Pickin' fights with death that you already died for (Died for)
And I know (Yes, Lawd)
[Verse 3]
Battling temptation, it be crazy when I'm on tour
I be wrestling with Satan, got my neck all sore
I was praying at the temple, got me down in all fours
I was tricking off when I knew that I should tithe more
When you're best dressed for the late night revival
Looking for a chapel, ain't no church in the wild
Ain't no salvation in the bottom of a bottle
Hid it in a drawer like a hotel Bible
Tell me where you find a Sunday service at four in the morning (Four in the morning)
I must stick to Holy Water for this Patron (For this Patron)
Knew that I fell out of grace when the Lexus swerved off the road (Swerved off the rr-rr)
If you get me out this, I won't do it no more (Do it no more)
Visions of me and my sons, this is what's keeping me numb
Look what they missing, they need attention, I can't give 'em none
Made in His image I guess I know where they getting it from
I think that Heaven is me and yo' mama getting along
Staying together, I know is part of the scripture in song
I know that I should be home
I know that Chick-fil-A closed
Give me the script and I get a grip and get back on the road (Road, road, road)
[Refrain]
Even if I take this walk alone
I, bow down to the King upon the throne
My, life is his I'm no longer my own
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://rapzilla.com/2019-08-kanye-west-possibly-releasing-new-album-jesus-is-king-soon/
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/3JWiDGQX2eTlFvKj3Yssj3?si=dbc9460035954a4b&nd=1&dlsi=17623f3bb2c143e5
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKM90u7pf3U
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://genius.com/Kanye-west-closed-on-sunday-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/Closed-on-Sunday/
- ↑ https://pillowcase.zip/f/9b8c54189853798758e1d963614b8f69
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/1514386a98824711c7bc217f934e5b52
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/2741ab989782702b530d7be3e6bb523f
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ErImyH-bU/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Kanye/comments/da8993/jesus_is_king_new_tracklist/
- ↑ https://images.genius.com/022e082f0bb9a930560bdcf4e29858fb.561x1000x1.jpg
- ↑ https://genius.com/Kanye-west-and-dr-dre-closed-on-sunday-remix-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12289616
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_on_Sunday
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