Sunrise, Sunset


"Sunrise, Sunset" is a song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof written in 1964 by composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick.

Production

Lyricist Sheldon Harnick said:
The album Sheldon Harnick: Hidden Treasures features the demo recording of "Sunrise, Sunset" featuring Harnick, accompanied by composer Jerry Bock. Harnick said "This CD set is supposed to be the unknown songs, and the two men who created it, Bill Rudman and Ken Bloom, when they said they wanted to use "Sunrise, Sunset," I said but that's a very familiar song. They said not with you singing it."

Synopsis

This song is performed at the wedding of Tevye and Golde's eldest daughter. The two parents sing about how they can't believe their daughter has grown up, while Hodel and Perchik sing about whether there may be a wedding in the nearby future for them.

Critical reception

The Irish Times said the song has a "hypnotic chorus". AllMusic deemed it one of the film's "famous and now-standard songs". Splash Magazine named it one of the musical's "big Broadway numbers". Style Weekly said the song, along with Tradition, had "infectious strains". Des Moines Register says the musical "melts into bittersweetness" at this song. Northampton Chronicle says it is "poignant". Virtual Shropshire writes the song "wrings the heart...as Tevye's daughters approach marrying age." Register Citizen describes the song as a "heartbreaking parental cry to slow down the years, to keep their children young: "Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?"". AZ Central noted the song was "haunting and emotional". Blue Coupe wrote "Musically, the scene's centerpiece is the classic "Sunrise, Sunset,"".

Recordings

"Sunrise, Sunset" is often played at weddings. In 2011 Sheldon Harnick wrote two versions of the song, suitable for same-sex weddings, with minor word changes. For example, for male couples, changes include "When did they grow to be so handsome".