Our final song with a day of the week in the title song of the day of the week is “Never On Sunday” by the Chordettes. The Chordettes’ version of the song hit #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961; an instrumental version, by Don Costa and His Orchestra, had hit #19 on the Hot 100 the year prior.
“Never On Sunday” was written, with the Greek title “Ta Pediá tou Pireá,” for the 1960 Greek film, Never On Sunday. That film was a romantic comedy about a Greek prostitute, played by Melina Mercouri, who meets an American who tries to steer her towards morality while she tries to make him more relaxed. “Never On Sunday,” the song, was sung by Ms. Mercouri in the film and won and Academy Award for Best Original Song.
“Never On Sunday” was written by Manos Hatzidakis, both words and music. The original Greek lyrics didn’t mention Sunday at all, instead telling the story of the movie’s main character. After the success of Don Costa’s instrumental version, lyricist Billy Towne was commissioned to write English-language words. To play off the success of the film, Towne was instructed to include the name of the movie in the lyrics, which he did.
The English-language lyrics stress that the singer can be kissed on any day of the week except Sunday, because that’s her day of rest:
Oh, you can kiss me on a Monday, a Monday,
a Monday is very, very good,
or you can kiss me on a Tuesday, a Tuesday
a Tuesday in fact I wish you would.Or you can kiss me on a Wednesday, a Thursday a Friday,
and Saturday is best,
but never ever on a Sunday, a Sunday, a Sunday,
cause that’s my day of rest.
Don Costa had the first hit version of the song and the Chordettes had the highest-charting version, but the tune has been covered by literally dozens of artists over the years. Connie Francis had a popular version, as did Doris Day and the New Christy Minstrels, but I’m particularly partial to Julie London’s version. It’s a good tune in any language and Townes’ lyrics are somewhat clever, in a simple way. It’s a good way to end the week, with or without a kiss.
