“Sunrise Sunset”

The hit musical The Fiddler on the Roof is the story of a man named Tevye and his thoughts and feelings living in Anatevka in Tsarist Russia in 1905. He and his wife Golde and his five daughters struggle in finances due to being a poor farming family. Despite his circumstances Tevye manages to go on with his life and day dream at times. He keeps to the small Jewish community he is in avoiding his non Jewish neighbors. Tevye explains to the audience the Jews in Russia are as a fiddler on a roof: trying to scratch out a pleasant tune, while not breaking their necks. The fiddler appears throughout the film as a metaphoric reminder of the Jews' ever-present fears and danger. As the film progresses Tevye’s oldest daughter Tzeitel decides to marry her childhood sweetheart Motel the town’s tailor. In the song “Sunrise Sunset” tells how everyone attending feels about the marriage of Tzeitel and Motel. How fast they grew up from kids who used to play to current day. during the song Tevye wrestles with his little girl growing up as he and his wife and daughters sing.

(Tevye)
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

(Golde)
I don't remember growing older
When did they?

(Tevye)
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?

(Golde)
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?

(Men)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

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

(Tevye)
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?

(Golde)
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day

(Perchik)
They look so natural together

(Hodel)
Just like two newlyweds should be

(Perchik & Hodel)
Is there a canopy in store for me?

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

Dilemma:

         It is hard to accept when the ones you love around you grow up, especially if you have known them since childhood. This is a hard adjustment at times that parents have to go through. It just goes to show that the years fly by faster than we realize. It is important that we should treasure the times we share with love ones now, before time slips by. Tevye realizes this concept of time when his daughter is getting married. Watching her say her vows he starts to sing “Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play? When did she get to be a beauty? When did he grow to be so tall? ” His wife jumps in with saying “I don't remember growing older when did they? Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?” Eventually all the men and women at the wedding join in the song by saying “Sunrise, sunset Sunrise, sunset. Swiftly flow the days. 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.” Tevye and Golde as any other parent begins to think of what he can say to his daughter during this time of transition in the line “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.” Any parent or older sibling can relate to this song of time passing by so quickly and accepting loves ones as they grew and adventure out alone before your very eyes.