what is the song "Gloomy Sunday" about?

Question

It's been done by Heather Nova,Christian Death,Bjork and other artists. What is the song about?

Answer 1

t h e s u i c i d e s o n g
Gloomy Sunday - the notorious 'Hungarian Suicide Song' - was written in 1933. Its melody and original lyrics were the creation of Rezsô Seress, a self-taught pianist and composer born in Hungary in 1899.

The crushing hopelessness and bitter despair which characterised the two stanza penned by Seress were superseded by the more mournful, melancholic verses of Hungarian poet László Jávor.

When the song came to public attention it quickly earned its reputation as a 'suicide song'. Reports from Hungary alleged individuals had taken their lives after listening to the haunting melody, or that the lyrics had been left with their last letters.

The lyricists Sam M. Lewis and Desmond Carter each penned an English translatation of the song. It was Lewis's version, first recorded by Hal Kemp and his Orchestra, with Bob Allen on vocals (1936), that was to become the most widely covered.

The popularity of Gloomy Sunday increased greatly through its interpretation by Billie Holiday (1941). In an attempt to alleviate the pessemistic tone a third stanza was added to this version, giving the song a dreamy twist, yet still the suicide reputation remained. Gloomy Sunday was banned from the playlists of major radio broadcasters around the world. The B.B.C. deemed it too depressing for the airwaves.

Despite all such bans, Gloomy Sunday continued to be recorded and sold.

People continued to buy the recordings; some committed suicide.

Rezsô Seress jumped to his death from his flat in 1968.

Answer 2

From what I've read somewhere, it's one of those "jinx" songs that bring about "bad luck" to people who hear it played. It was composed by a Hungarian composer one gloomy sunday around early 20th century, after he and his girlfriend broke up. When he was trying to get it published, he was turned down several times because it was "too gloomy."

There have been incidences of suicide and other mishaps associated with hearing the song. Fortunately, the recent versions of the song recorded weren't as "gloomy" and "jinxed" as the original--i'm not sure if there was ever a recording made of it.

Answer 3

I could be wrong (I should put this disclaimer at the bottem of all my answers) but i think it's about a friend who kills themselves and then the singer is thinking of doing the same. I love Bjork.

Answer 4

Sundays being gloomy, duh!!!!!!! =)