In 1968, Goulet was on Broadway in the Kander and Ebb musical, The Happy Time. He appeared in a 1982 production of Rose-Marie with Inga Swenson, and in 2005 appeared in the Broadway revival of Jerry Herman's La Cage aux Folles. Goulet began a recording career with Columbia Records in 1962 which resulted in more than 15 albums.
Goulet began working in films in 1962, providing the voice of one of the characters in the animated feature Gay Purr-ee opposite Judy Garland. His first acting role was in His and Hers (1964), but it was not until a cameo appearance as a singer in Louis Malle's Atlantic City (1980) that Goulet was given critical acclaim. He recorded the song Atlantic City (My Old Friend) for Applause Records in 1981.
He was absent from the screen for seven years until he was cast by Tim Burton as a houseguest blown through the roof by Beetlejuice and also played himself in Bill Murray's Scrooged (both 1988). In 1990, he sang the Canadian national anthem at the beginning of WrestleMania VI, which was held at the Toronto Skydome in Toronto, Ontario Canada.
In 1991, Goulet starred, along with John Putch and Hillary Bailey Smith, in the unsold television series pilot Acting Sheriff. That same year he appeared as the bad guy known as 'Quentin Hapsburg' opposite Leslie Nielsen in the comedy The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.
In 1993, he played himself in the Simpsons episode $pringfield. In that episode, he sang the well-known Jingle Bells (Batman Smells), although he has yet to record the song commercially. In 1996, he appeared in Ellen DeGeneres' first starring vehicle, Mr. Wrong, as an insecure TV host. Goulet has also appeared in the Disney cartoon, 'Recess', as the singing voice for Mikey Blumberg, in numerous episodes.
Sunrise Sunset
Robert Goulet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 in Robert Goulet's song "Sunrise Sunset" speaks about the passage of time and how it affects us. It starts with the lines, "Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play? I don't remember growing older, When did they?" which expresses the feeling of surprise and melancholy that comes with the realization that our loved ones are growing up and changing without our awareness. The next lines, "When did she get to be a beauty? When did he grow to be so tall? Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?" further emphasizes this sentiment, showing how quickly time passes and how it can leave us feeling disconnected from our past selves.
The chorus, "Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset, Swiftly flow the days. Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers, Blossoming even as we gaze" continues this theme of rapid transformation, comparing the growth of children to the blooming of flowers. The lines, "One season following another, Laden with happiness and tears" underscore the bittersweet reality that comes with the passage of time, as we experience both joy and sorrow along the way.
The final stanza shifts the focus to the singer's own life, as they contemplate the future, wondering "What words of wisdom can I give them? How can I help to ease their way?" They reflect on their own mortality by asking, "Is there a canopy in store for me?" The song ends on the same note it began, with the recognition that life flows by quickly and we must cherish every moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this the little girl I carried?
When did my child grow up and become a young lady?
Is this the little boy at play?
When did my son grow taller and become a man?
I don't remember growing older, When did they?
It feels like just yesterday that they were young, but now they have grown up.
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did my daughter become such a beautiful young woman?
When did he grow to be so tall?
When did my son grow so tall, towering over me?
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?
It feels like only yesterday that they were small, but time has flown by so quickly.
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly flow the days.
Time passes quickly, with each day blending into the next.
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers, Blossoming even as we gaze.
We may not realize it, but things change and grow right in front of us.
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly fly the years.
Years go by quickly, with each one passing in a flash.
One season following another, Laden with happiness and tears.
Each season brings its own joys and sorrows.
What words of wisdom can I give them?
As a parent, what advice can I give my children as they move through life?
How can I help to ease their way?
What can I do to make their journey through life a little smoother?
Now they must learn from one another, Day by day.
My children must rely on each other and learn from their own experiences as they grow.
They look so natural together, Just like two newlyweds should be.
It's heartwarming to see my children supporting each other as they embark on their own paths.
Is there a canopy in store for me?
As I grow older, I wonder what the future holds for me.
Lyrics © BOCK IP LLC, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerrold Bock, Sheldon Harnick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Annie Lev
This was Robert Goulet's last performance before he passed away. Such a beautiful man with an outstanding voice.
calvin jackson
YES, VERY MOVING! Something goes all over me when he sings this song.
Viraf Karai
An absolute class act.
GeorgenotSmith
Moving.