Accor… Read Full Bio ↴Just further proof of Conor Oberst's life-changing brilliance.
According to Songfacts, the message in Sunrise, Sunset is that that no matter who we are or what we do, it will all end the same. We can not escape death.
Sunrise Sunset
Bright Eyes Lyrics
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Swiftly go the days
Sunrise, sunset, you wake up then you undress
It always is the same
The sunrise and the sunsets, you're lying while you confess
Keep trying to explain
The sunrise and the sunsets, you realize then you forget
What you've been trying to retain
But everybody knows
It's all about the things that get stuck inside of your head
Like the songs your roommate sings
A vision of her body as she stretches out on your bed
And she raised her hands in the air
Asked you, "When was the last time you looked in the mirror?"
Because you've changed
Yeah, you've changed
The sunrise, the sunsets, you're hopeful and then you regret
The circle never breaks
With a sunrise and a sunset, there's a change of heart or address
Is there nothing that remains?
For a sunrise or a sunset, you're manic or you're depressed
Will you ever feel okay?
For a sunrise or a sunset, your lover is an actress
Did you really think she'd stay?
For a sunrise or a sunset, you're either coming or you just left
But you're always on the way
Towards a sunrise or a sunset, a scribble or a sonnet
They are really just the same
To the sunrise or a sunset, the master and his servant
Have exactly the same fate
It's a sunrise and a sunset, from a cradle to a casket
There is no way to escape
The sunrise and a sunset, hold your sadness like a puppet
Keep putting on the play
But everything you do is leading to the point
Where you just won't know what to do
At that moment you may laugh but there is someone there
Who will be laughing louder than you
So it's true, the trick is complete
You become everything you said you never would be
You're a fool
You're a fool
Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset, sunrise and the sunsets
Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, the sunsets, the sunrise, the sunsets
Sunrise, sunset, go home to your apartment
Put the cassette in the tape deck
And let that fever play
Sunrise, sunset, where are you Arienette?
Where are you Arienette?
The song "Sunrise Sunset" by Bright Eyes describes a person's journey of life, from birth to death, through the imagery of sunrises and sunsets. The song begins with the repetitive phrase "Sunrise, sunset," which represents the passage of time and how quickly life moves. The singer talks about waking up and undressing, indicating the start of a new day, and how it seems like nothing has changed as the cycle repeats itself. The lyrics also imply a struggle to understand oneself as the singer talks about lying and confessing, trying to explain but realizing and forgetting what they were trying to retain.
The chorus brings in the idea that things stuck in our heads are what shape our lives, from the songs we hear to the people we encounter. The singer describes a vision of their roommate stretching out on their bed, prompting them to question when they last looked in the mirror and how much they have changed. The idea of change is prevalent throughout the song, with phrases like "you're hopeful and then you regret" and "you're manic or you're depressed" indicating the ups and downs of life. The lyrics also touch on the romantic relationships that come and go and how everything we do leads to the point where we don't know what to do, making us fools in the game of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset
The passing of time and the monotony of life
Swiftly go the days
Days go by quickly and time waits for no one
You wake up then you undress, it always is the same
Life can be repetitive and mundane
You're lying while you confess. Keep trying to explain
People often hide the truth while trying to rationalize their actions
You realize then you forget what you've been trying to retain
Memories can be fleeting and hard to hold onto
It's all about the things that get stuck inside of your head like the songs your roommate sings
Certain memories and experiences can leave a lasting impact on us
A vision of her body as she stretches out on your bed, and she raised her hands in the air
Certain experiences and people can be engraved in our memory
Asked you, 'When was the last time you looked in the mirror?' Because you've changed, Yeah you've changed
People change over time and sometimes it's hard to accept those changes
The circle never breaks
People often repeat the same patterns and habits throughout their life
Is there nothing that remains?
Change can be difficult and sometimes we long for stability
Will you ever feel okay?
Mental illness and emotional struggles can be difficult to overcome
Did you really think she'd stay?
People and relationships can be fleeting and temporary
But you're always on the way
Life is a journey and we are always moving forward
They are really just the same
Creative expression can take many forms, but ultimately they all seek to convey a message or emotion
The master and his servant have exactly the same fate
No matter a person's station in life, everyone is subject to the passage of time
There is no way to escape
Death is an inevitable part of life
Keep putting on the play
Life can feel like a performance where we try to present ourselves in the best light
But everything you do is leading to the point where you just won't know what to do
Life can be unpredictable and we don't always know what the future holds
At that moment you may laugh but there is someone there who will be laughing louder than you
Life can be full of unexpected twists and turns - sometimes the joke is on us
So it's true, the trick is complete. You become everything you said you never would be. You're a fool
Life can sometimes make us feel like fools and betray our own expectations
Go home to your apartment, put the cassette in the tape deck and let that fever play
Music can be therapeutic and help us escape
Where are you Arienette?
Arienette is a character from another Bright Eyes song; this line is likely a reference to nostalgia or longing for the past
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Conor Oberst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Florian Unionjack
Lyrics:
Sunrise, sunset.
Sunrise, sunset.
Swiftly go the days.
Sunrise, sunset.
You wake up, then you undress.
It always is the same.
The sunrise and the sunsets.
You are lying while you confess, keep trying to explain.
The sunrise and the sunsets
You realize then you forget what you've been trying to retain.
But everybody knows that it is all about the things
That get stuck inside of your head,
Like the songs your roommate sings
Or a vision of her body as she stretches out on your bed.
She raised her hands in the air, asked you,
When was the last time you looked in the mirror?
Cause you've changed.
Yeah, you've changed.
Sunrises, sunsets.
You're hopeful then you regret.
The circle never breaks.
With a sunrise and a sunset there's a change of heart or address.
Is there nothing that remains?
For a sunrise or a sunset.
You're manic or you're depressed.
Will you ever feel ok?
For a sunrise or a sunset, your lover is an actress.
Did you really think she'd stay?
For a sunrise or a sunset.
You're either coming or you just left but you're always on the way.
Towards a sunrise or a sunset, a scribble or a sonnet.
They are really just the same.
To the sunrise and the sunset.
The master and his servant have exactly the same fate.
It's a sunrise and a sunset.
From a cradle to a casket.
There is no way to escape.
The sunrise and the sunset.
Hold your sadness like a puppet, keep putting on the play.
But everything you do is leading to the point
Where you just won't know what to do.
And at that moment you may laugh
But there is someone there who will be laughing louder than you.
So it's true, the trick is complete.
Become everything you said you never would be.
You're a fool! You're a fool!
Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset.
Sunrise and the sunsets.
Sunrise, sunset, sunrises, sunsets.
Sunrise and the sunsets.
Sunrise, sunset.
Go home to your apartment
And put the cassette in the tape deck and let that fever play.
Sunrise, sunset.
Where are you Arienette?
Where are you Arienette?
Roiy Benkel
Sunrise, sunset.
Sunrise, sunset.
Swiftly go the days.
Sunrise, sunset.
You wake up, then you undress.
It always is the same.
The sunrise and the sunsets.
You are lying while you confess, keep trying to explain.
The sunrise and the sunsets
You realize then you forget what you've been trying to retain.
But everybody knows that it is all about the things
That get stuck inside of your head,
Like the songs your roommate sings
Or a vision of her body as she stretches out on your bed.
She raised her hands in the air, asked you,
When was the last time you looked in the mirror?
Cause you've changed.
Yeah, you've changed.
Sunrises, sunsets.
You're hopeful then you regret.
The circle never breaks.
With a sunrise and a sunset there's a change of heart or address.
Is there nothing that remains?
For a sunrise or a sunset.
You're manic or you're depressed.
Will you ever feel ok?
For a sunrise or a sunset, your lover is an actress.
Did you really think she'd stay?
For a sunrise or a sunset.
You're either coming or you just left but you're always on the way.
Towards a sunrise or a sunset, a scribble or a sonnet.
They are really just the same.
To the sunrise and the sunset.
The master and his servant have exactly the same fate.
It's a sunrise and a sunset.
From a cradle to a casket.
There is no way to escape.
The sunrise and the sunset.
Hold your sadness like a puppet, keep putting on the play.
But everything you do is leading to the point
Where you just won't know what to do.
And at that moment you may laugh
But there is someone there who will be laughing louder than you.
So it's true, the trick is complete.
Become everything you said you never would be.
You're a fool! You're a fool!
Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset.
Sunrise and the sunsets.
Sunrise, sunset, sunrises, sunsets.
Sunrise and the sunsets.
Sunrise, sunset.
Go home to your apartment
And put the cassette in the tape deck and let that fever play.
Sunrise, sunset.
Where are you Arienette?
Where are you Arienette?
Matthew
Sunrise, sunset.
Sunrise, sunset.
Swiftly go the days.
Sunrise, sunset.
You wake up, then you undress.
It always is the same.
The sunrise and the sunsets.
You are lying while you confess, keep trying to explain.
The sunrise and the sunsets
You realize then you forget what you've been trying to retain.
But everybody knows that it is all about the things
That get stuck inside of your head,
Like the songs your roommate sings
Or a vision of her body as she stretches out on your bed.
She raised her hands in the air, asked you,
When was the last time you looked in the mirror?
Cause you've changed.
Yeah, you've changed.
Sunrises, sunsets.
You're hopeful then you regret.
The circle never breaks.
With a sunrise and a sunset there's a change of heart or address.
Is there nothing that remains?
For a sunrise or a sunset.
You're manic or you're depressed.
Will you ever feel ok?
For a sunrise or a sunset, your lover is an actress.
Did you really think she'd stay?
For a sunrise or a sunset.
You're either coming or you just left but you're always on the way.
Towards a sunrise or a sunset, a scribble or a sonnet.
They are really just the same.
To the sunrise and the sunset.
The master and his servant have exactly the same fate.
It's a sunrise and a sunset.
From a cradle to a casket.
There is no way to escape.
The sunrise and the sunset.
Hold your sadness like a puppet, keep putting on the play.
But everything you do is leading to the point
Where you just won't know what to do.
And at that moment you may laugh
But there is someone there who will be laughing louder than you.
So it's true, the trick is complete.
Become everything you said you never would be.
You're a fool! You're a fool!
Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset.
Sunrise and the sunsets.
Sunrise, sunset, sunrises, sunsets.
Sunrise and the sunsets.
Sunrise, sunset.
Go home to your apartment
And put the cassette in the tape deck and let that fever play.
Sunrise, sunset.
Where are you Arienette?
Where are you Arienette?
Ginda Flores
Am I the only one who gets in "Bright Eyes" moods when all you want to do is listen to Conor's voice and pick apart each song and what the lyrics mean to you
Bee Monet
Ginda Flores Hello. Thank you
Christopherson
noone is ever the only one to do anything
გვანცა სურმავა
it’s 5am
Derek Martens
I’m 31 dude and I’m trying to find a balance, the sunrise and the sunset do you ever feel the same..
Zac Russi
happens multiple times a year for the past 17 years
Emre Acıkaraoğlu
this's the music you'll keep coming back to while walking in circles in life.
Madti Boysen
Well put!
Neat Magenta
Yup so true
Mo Dr
haha, thats what I thought