Meaning of "Sunday and Sister Jones" by Roberta Flack

The lyrics of "Sunday and Sister Jones" delve into themes of faith, acceptance, mortality, and the cycle of life and death. Sister Jones is portrayed as a strong, faith-driven woman who grapples with the impending death of her husband and ultimately faces her own mortality. Her plea to God to spare her husband's life showcases her deep love and desperation, while her calm acceptance of her fate and gratitude towards God in her final moments highlight her unwavering faith. The repetition of "Lord if you take him away, I don't want to live" reflects the interconnectedness of Sister Jones's life with her husband's, and ultimately her readiness to join him in death. The imagery of life draining from her body like water from a well emphasizes the inevitability of death. Overall, the lyrics suggest a profound acceptance of life's impermanence and the belief in a higher power.