by
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe

Syosset, New York

As parents we all know how quickly time flies when "der kinder" (the children) and grandchildren are growing up.  My eldest "eynikl" (grandchild), Amanda is now a freshman in college.  Three of our grandsons are in high school, and we have a new grandson, 15 months old.

The newspaper headlines read:

  "A Little Same-Sex Shtetl
  In a New 'Sunrise, Sunset'
              New York Times, Oct. 6, 2011

  Miracle of Miracles:
  'Sunrise, Sunset' Gets a
  Gay Makeover

  Lyricist alters
  "Sunrise, Sunset"
  lyrics for gay weddings

Forty seven years ago "Sunrise, Sunset" was first sung on the Broadway stage when the characters Tzeitel and Motel got married.

Chaim Topol, who appeared in the 1971 movie version, and who played the part of Tevye,  has sung the signature song, "Sunrise, Sunset" more than 2,000 times.  He said in an interview with John Monaghan, "I have children, so I know what it's like to give children away to strangers that come along.

Since then the song has become a "khasene" (wedding) standard.  Sheldon Harnick, now 87, wrote the beautiful lyrics... and now has altered the words by writing a new version for male and female gay couples.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011,  Richard Skipper and Daniel had the song performed at the couple's wedding party.  "Di aktrise" (the actress, Jana Robbins, sang the number.

The Rev. Joshua Ellis, who performed the ceremony, conferred with the representative of "Fiddler on the Roof composer, Jerry Block, who died last year, before agreeing to the proposals.

Rev. Ellis explained "dos gantse" (the whole) thing:  "I told the crowd this was the world premiere.  This was it.  When it was over, the applause just went on and on and on.
There were people who were applauding, people who were crying, and people who were silent in awe."

The Rev. Ellis said, "I was surprised at how emotional they were.  I got an email from a friend saying, 'Thank you.  Now I know what I want sung at my wedding to my partner.'"

Shown below are the NEW lyrics:

                FOR MALE COUPLES:

Is this the little boy I carried?
Is that the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older.
When did they?

When did they grow to be so handsome?
When did they grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it just yesterday when they were small?

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 year.
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.

          FOR FEMALE COUPLES;

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is that the little girl at play?
I don't remember growing older.
When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?
[Alternative]:  When did she get to be so handsome?]
When did she grow to be this tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?

Sunrise, sunset
[continues as above]

------------------------------------------
Marjorie said that in an old audio recording Block cheerily introduced the song "Sunrise, Sunset" and described the tune as "unbashedly unsentimental' before unleashing a full-throated stream of bum-bum-bums' and 'ya-da-das.'

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___________________________________________
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe is the author of
two books:

"Yiddish for Dog & Cat Lovers" and
"Are Yentas, Kibitzers, & Tummlers Weapons of Mass Instruction?  Yiddish
Trivia."  To order a copy, go to her
website: MarjorieGottliebWolfe.com

NU, what are you waiting for?  Order the book!