Sheldon Harnick (born April 30, 1924) is an American lyricist best known fo… Read Full Bio ↴Sheldon Harnick (born April 30, 1924) is an American lyricist best known for his collaborations with composer Jerry Bock on hit musicals such as Fiddler on the Roof.

Harnick began his career writing words and music to comic songs in musical revues. One of these, "The Merry Minuet", was popularized by the Kingston Trio. It is in the caustic style usually associated with Tom Lehrer and is sometimes incorrectly attributed to him.

Sunrise Sunset
Sheldon Harnick Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset

Is this the little girl I carried?
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
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming, even as they gaze

Sunrise sunset, sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset

Overall Meaning

The song "Sunrise Sunset" by Sheldon Harnick is a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the bittersweetness of growing older. The first verse asks the question of where the children - a girl and a boy - have gone, since it feels like only yesterday that they were young and carefree. The second verse marvels at how the children have grown and changed, becoming beautiful and tall seemingly overnight. The chorus then repeats the phrase "Sunrise Sunset" to emphasize how quickly time seems to slip away, as if the days and years are flying by in a blur.

The song's main message is that life is fleeting and we must cherish every moment, because before we know it, our youth and vitality will have passed us by. The idea of "seedlings turning into sunflowers" represents how quickly our lives can change and blossom, and how we should strive to make the most of every opportunity. The final lines of the song acknowledge that life is not always happy, and that there will be ups and downs along the way. However, the overall tone of the song is one of wistful nostalgia, as we look back on our lives and wonder where the time has gone.

Line by Line Meaning

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset
The repetition of sunrise and sunset refers to the cyclical nature of time as days and years pass by.

Is this the little girl I carried?
The singer reflects on how fast time flies by, and realizes that the child they used to carry is not so little anymore.

Is this the little boy at play?
The singer expresses surprise at how quickly the little boy they used to see playing has grown up.

I don't remember growing older
The artist emphasizes how time has passed them by so quickly that they didn't even notice themselves growing up.

When did they?
The artist questions when exactly the children they knew turned into the adults they see now.

When did she get to be a beauty?
The singer is amazed at how quickly the little girl they knew has grown into a beautiful woman.

When did he grow to be so tall?
The singer observes how the little boy they knew has grown up to be a tall man, without them noticing when it happened.

Wasn't it yesterday, when they were small?
The artist nostalgically reminisces about the past, wondering how it could feel like just yesterday when the children were small.

Swiftly flow the days
The artist acknowledges that time passes by quickly, as days turn into weeks, months, and years.

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
The artist is in awe of how quickly young, innocent children grow up to be beautiful, mature adults.

Blossoming, even as they gaze
The singer observes how children continue to grow and develop into adults even as they are watched and admired by their parents.

Swiftly fly the years
The artist acknowledges that years pass by quickly, almost as if they're flying by.

One season following another
The singer highlights the cyclical nature of seasons changing, and how this is representative of time passing by.

Laden with happiness and tears
The singer reflects on how time is often filled with happiness and sadness, as people experience different moments in their lives.

One season following another
The singer repeats this line to emphasize the cyclical nature of time and how it continues to pass by.

Laden with happiness and tears
The artist repeats this line to once again reflect on how time is often filled with both happy and sad moments.

Writer(s): Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Bock

Contributed by Ethan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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