Ethel Agnes Zimmerman was born in the third floor bedroom of her grandmother's house at 359 4th Avenue in Astoria, Queens. Growing up near Famous Players-Lasky's Astoria Studios, young Ethel often watched the silent movie stars drive by in their massive cars, and she dreamed of joining their ranks one day. Her powerful voice won attention when her family worshipped at Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church, and she began making local concert appearances. She also frequently attended vaudeville performances at The Palace Theater in Manhattan, watching great stars like Fanny Brice and Sophie Tucker.
Ethel's parents Edward (an accountant) and Agnes (a school teacher) understood Ethel's love of singing, but they did not see show business as a reliable career choice for a woman. They insisted that she get a solid education with thorough training in secretarial skills, so she would have something to fall back on if her dreams of stardom didn't pan out. After Ethel graduating William Cullen Bryant High School, she earned a respectable $28 a week as a stenographer for the owner of a local factory. She picked up extra money by singing at private parties and in night clubs. Ethel was so efficient that her indulgent boss (who only came in two days a week) overlooked her taking nap breaks at the office after late night performances. When Ethel's gigs multiplied, her parents accepted the inevitable and allowed her to give up the day job and sing full-time.
Sunrise Sunset
Ethel Merman Lyrics
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Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older,
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset,
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly fly the years.
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another,
Day by day.
They look so natural together,
Just like two newlyweds should be.
Is there a canopy in store for me?
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly fly the years.
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.
The lyrics of Sunrise Sunset by Ethel Merman are an introspective reflection on the passage of time and the inevitability of aging. The first two lines set the tone for the entire song as the singer asks if the little girl and boy are the same ones they once carried and played with. The line "I don't remember growing older, when did they?" is a poignant reminder of how quickly time passes and how we often forget how much we've aged until we see it in others.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on specific moments of the children's lives, asking when the little girl became a beauty and when the little boy grew so tall. The chorus of "Sunrise, sunset" reinforces the idea of the swift passage of time and the change that comes with it.
The second verse addresses the singer's role as a parent or mentor to the children and the desire to impart wisdom or guidance. The line "Now they must learn from one another, day by day" suggests a recognition that the children are growing up and becoming independent. The final lines of the verse contrast the children's new beginnings with the singer's own uncertainty about what the future holds.
The final chorus emphasizes the cyclical nature of life, with each season bringing both happiness and tears. The final line, "Is there a canopy in store for me?" expresses a hope for a peaceful end to life's journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this the little girl I carried?
Expressing surprise at how much a girl has grown over the years.
Is this the little boy at play?
Expressing surprise at how much a boy has grown over the years.
I don't remember growing older,
Musing on how fast time has passed without realization.
When did they?
Asking a rhetorical question about the passage of time.
When did she get to be a beauty?
Feeling stunned at how quickly a girl has transformed from a child into a beautiful woman.
When did he grow to be so tall?
Feeling shocked at how quickly a boy has grown into a tall man.
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?
Reflecting upon the past and how it seems like it happened only yesterday.
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset,
The repetition of the phrase symbolizes the passage of time and how it moves quickly.
Swiftly flow the days.
Expressing how fast the days can move.
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Using a metaphor to illustrate how quickly children grow into mature adults.
Blossoming even as we gaze.
Expressing how it can be difficult to notice how fast children grow up and mature into adults.
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset,
The repetition of the phrase symbolizes the passage of time and how it moves quickly.
Swiftly fly the years.
Expressing how fast the years can move.
One season following another,
Using a metaphor to describe the natural progression of time.
Laden with happiness and tears.
Expressing how life can be full of both joyful and sorrowful experiences.
What words of wisdom can I give them?
Wondering how to offer guidance and advice to children as they grow up.
How can I help to ease their way?
Wondering how to make life easier for children as they navigate their way through adulthood.
Now they must learn from one another,
Acknowledging that children must learn from their own experiences and from each other.
Day by day.
Expressing how life is a gradual process of learning and growth.
They look so natural together,
Observing how well two people get along and how right they seem for each other.
Just like two newlyweds should be.
Using the metaphor of newlyweds to describe how two people can be a perfect match for each other.
Is there a canopy in store for me?
Wondering what the future may hold for oneself.
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset,
The repetition of the phrase symbolizes the passage of time and how it moves quickly.
Swiftly fly the years.
Expressing how fast the years can move.
One season following another,
Using a metaphor to describe the natural progression of time.
Laden with happiness and tears.
Expressing how life can be full of both joyful and sorrowful experiences.
Lyrics © BOCK IP LLC, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerrold Bock, Sheldon Harnick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind