Songwriters – like the rest of us – have strong associations with different days of the week, and they’re often inspired to write about events that take place on a given day.
As a result, many legendary pop songs feature days of the week in their lyrics. Whether by design or by accident, these are often the tunes that pop into my head when I wake up in the morning and try to remember what day it is. And I’m sure I’m not alone.
Here are ten of my favorite songs with days of the week in the title and lyrics. Feel free to use them for a playlist to keep you grooving all week long.
Top Songs With Days of the Week
10. Monday, Monday – The Mamas and the Papas
Written and anchored by frontman “Papa” John Phillips, “Monday, Monday” follows a narrator who wakes up hopeful that the day will bring happiness but ends up disappointed and feeling betrayed.
Famed for their tight, ethereal harmonies and dreamy, often psychedelic lyrics, The Mamas & The Papas rose to popularity in the mid-60s, producing numerous hits and making a now-iconic appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival.
“Monday, Monday” reached the #1 spot in 1966 and remains a popular anthem today for anyone who dreads going back to school or work on Mondays after relaxing all weekend.
9. Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones
This 1967 Billboard #1 single was written by Keith Richards during his heartbreak over losing his longtime girlfriend, Linda Keith, to another rock superstar. In addition to being one of the Stones’ most lastingly popular tunes, it was the final songwriting collaboration between Richards and Brian Jones before Jones’s death in 1969.
Along with being one of the most iconic songs with days of the week in the lyrics, “Ruby Tuesday” has been immortalized as the name of a franchise of casual dining establishments headquartered in Maryville, Tennessee.
8. Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. – Simon & Garfunkel
Paul Simon ranks as one of the most talented and prolific songwriters of his generation. He and Art Garfunkel rose to prominence in the folk-pop wave of the 1960s on the power of Simon’s lyrical mastery and Garfunkel’s haunting, otherworldly vocals.
Though not one of the duo’s best-known songs, “Wednesday Morning, 3 AM” is a sweet, plaintive ballad that conveys the inner monologue of a repentant criminal who knows he must leave his lover at daybreak to flee the law – and laments that daybreak is only a few hours away.
The lyrics are sure to resonate with anyone who has found themselves lying awake in the early morning, filled with regret over how swiftly the day is approaching and how little sleep they’ve managed to get.
7. Thursday’s Child – David Bowie
One of the most widely renowned musicians and songwriters of our time, David Bowie was more than a pop star to his legions of fans: he was a beloved cultural icon. From his imaginative lyrics to his appearances in movies like Labyrinth and Zoolander to famous heterochromia in his eyes, Bowie’s image and artistic creativity inspired imaginations and won hearts across the planet throughout his 53-year career.
His 1999 song “Thursday’s Child” pays homage to Eartha Kitt’s memoir of the same name. The title reflects an old nursery rhyme about children born on various days of the week, which states that “Thursday’s child has far to go.”
The song’s narrator speaks of striving to reach his goals with little to no success, but Bowie was adamant in interviews that the lyrics are not representative of his own feelings or experience. On the contrary, he stated that while he always worked hard, songwriting and stagecraft came easily to him.
6. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) – Katy Perry
Katy Perry has never been afraid to laugh at herself, playing comic roles as well as serious ones in her many viral music videos. In the retro-inspired video for her 2010 bop “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” she wears orthodontic headgear and huge glasses with tape on the nosepiece and expresses exaggerated bewilderment over the events of the previous night, singing “It’s a blacked-out blur/But I’m pretty sure it ruled.”
The song was a tremendous success and remains a popular anthem for party animals who make it their mission to turn every weekend into a wild story. The high-production-value video won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Music Video.
5. Saturday – Fall Out Boy
“Saturday” goes out to anyone who has ever reflected on their weekend with some regret over squandered opportunities. Released in 2003, the song was written by bassist Pete Wentz and features his iconic screams.
Though it was written 20 years ago, “Saturday” is still one of Fall Out Boy’s most popular songs, beloved by the band’s members and fans alike. It’s almost always the final song on the band’s setlist for live shows.
4. Sunday Morning – Maroon 5
“Sunday morning, rain is falling/Steal some covers, share some skin,” croons Adam Levine on Maroon 5’s 2002 track “Sunday Morning.” The lyrics resonate deeply for romantic partners who love nothing more than waking up entwined together on quiet weekend mornings.
The song does not sustain the blissful peace of its opening lines, transitioning instead into longing reminiscence about a love left behind. It’s not as well-known as top hits like “She Will Be Loved” or “Moves Like Jagger,” but for longtime fans of the band, it’s sure to rank as one of their go-to jams about specific days of the week.
3. Sunday Morning – No Doubt
Maroon 5 is not the only band with strong feelings about Sunday mornings – and No Doubt’s song with the same title was released seven years previously.
Featuring a ska-punk vibe with elements of Motown and reggae, this “Sunday Morning” was written collaboratively by Gwen Stefani, her older brother and bandmate Eric, and bandmate Tony Kanal. The song is about Gwen’s breakup with Kanal and explores the familiar struggle to make sense of things in the wake of a relationship’s end.
2. Friday – Rebecca Black
You had to know it was coming. Sorry, not sorry.
Rebecca Black went from unknown teen to global icon virtually overnight in 2011, when her polarizing song “Friday” went viral. The song and its video – both of which cover a day in the life of a typical teen “looking forward to the weekend” – were universally panned, yet they were also some of the most widely viewed and culturally significant pieces of media in the 2010s.
For her part, fourteen-year-old Black endured unprecedented and vitriolic cyberbullying after “Friday’s” release. She came out of the experience having won against the haters and now enjoys a modestly successful career as a touring pop singer. She even released an electrifying remix of “Friday” in 2021 that has garnered praise from many critics.
1. Friday I’m In Love – The Cure
Our number one pick is yet another song about Friday – but its lyrics actually contain all seven days of the week.
“Friday I’m In Love” by The Cure is likely one of the most popular and beloved Friday songs out there. It’s an anthem to virtually everyone’s favorite day: the day many of us finish our school or work week and get to look forward to relaxing or socializing with friends and family.
Released in 1992, the song was written primarily by lead singer Robert Smith, who describes it as a “throw your hands in the air, let’s get happy” kind of record. I couldn’t agree more.
Final Thoughts
What makes songs about days of the week so enduringly popular? The answer lies in their universal appeal.
My favorite day of the week is definitely Saturday and I’m sure many others have their favorite days also. Others might identify specific memories with the day a particular event occurred. Whatever the association, almost everyone knows and keeps track of which day it is, making these songs popular for so many listeners.
I hope these ten songs put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step as you go about your week.
Born and raised in Austin, David is a dedicated writer and avid fragrance lover. When he's not trying out perfumes, he enjoys traveling and exploring new restaurants.