When you get the time
Sit down and write me a letter
When you're feeling better
Drop me a line
I wanna know how it all works out
I had a feeling we were fading out
I didn't know that people faded out so fast
That people faded out
When there was love enough left to fix it
But there it is
There it is, we are only one push from the nest
There it is, we are only one argument from death
There it is, the sun rises, but the sun also sets
The sun sets, the sun also sets

When you get these feelings
Next time, next time
Oh, be sure
You're gonna tear someone apart
I wanna know how it all works out
I had a feeling we were fading out
I didn't know that people faded out
That people faded out so fast
I wanna show you what I got inside
But you know those parts of me died
Just like that, they faded out, they faded out so fast
And there was love enough left to fix it
But there it is
There it is, we are only one shove from the nest
There it is, we are only one argument from death
There it is, we are only one moment from death
There it is, we are only one push from the nest
There it is, there it is, there it is, we are only one push from the nest
There it is, we are only one moment from death
There it is, the sun rises, but the sun also sets
The sun sets, the sun also sets


Lyrics submitted by lexnercj

The Sun Also Sets Lyrics as written by Ryan Adams Bradley Smith Pemberton

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Sun Also Sets song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

9 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    The Sun Also Rises is a book (mainly) about a veteran of the first world war who is in love with the beautiful Brett Ashley. Brett, however, is promiscuous and while she still loves the narrator, she refuses to be with him. The narrator is an extremely stoic individual who suppresses his intense feelings of love and loss. Also, it is implied throughout the book that he is incapable of sex because of wounds sustained in the war. The lines

    "I wanna show you what I got inside But you know those parts of me died"

    could refer to both his emotional or physical sterility. It's a great book so i'd thought i'd offer a quick synopsis. Great song.

    nat2023on October 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Wow no one else has commented. This is probably one of the best songs RA has ever written, the chorus, especially the outtro chorus, is amazing

    aStoryTold9on June 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    a-Freakin-men .....this is about the difficulties of a relationship, whether short or long term, failing. Every relationship can be worked out with love, but some people are just to damn stubborn and proud to admit that they love the other. so they let the relationship dissolve until there is nothing left.....so to quote the man...."there it is!"

    maxie1pon June 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah this song is amazing. "we are only one shove from the nest" - just kinda saying how everything (like relationships) are always on the verge of just being done - can't do nothing about it. So from what I take from it is, enjoy what you have when you have it and live it up to the fullest, cuz like he says, "the sun also sets..."

    needles1976on June 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    He knows the relationship is over, but he still wants to talk to her. He wants to know things are going, how it all worked out... even though he's "faded out" of the picture.

    bitta2sweeton July 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Obviously at the brink of ending a relationship. A love dwindling out quickly, that it's caught by surprise.

    "The sun rises but the sun also sets", to every beginning is an end.

    the_cannon03on November 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's a song about the end of a relationship as has been stated. The sun rose and set on it. It's another way of saying that nothing lasts forever.

    cubbyblueson January 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i cannot believe that of all the comments on this song, someone has yet to inquire about a reference to the Hemmingway novel "The Sun Also Rises". Especially since Ryan Adams has included some literary references in his past songs. The whole book is about love, and the damages that it can cause. I believe the song pertains to the book in some way but i can't quite put my finger on how. The second verse could certainly be written to Lady Ashley (for those of you who have read it), but i can't figure out the first half of the song...

    jack_snorrison January 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I was hoping to get more information about the reference's to Hemmingway's "The Sun also Rises."

    From what I got RA's lyrics: "When you get the time Sit down and write me a letter When you're feeling better Drop me a line I wanna know how it all works out I had a feeling we were fading out I didn't know that people faded out"

    expresses the idea of supressed emotions. Those in the relationship are tired and wish for everything to be out in the surface, bc these surpressed emotions are what ultimately destroyed the relationship and all belief in anything good. From reviews that I have read about the book, the expriatriates represent a group of people who have lost hope and innocence. Just like in the song, the war and the relationships throughout have taken a toll of the individuals. THe end of the book leaves some idea that once all of society falls apart, then there is hope for it to restart for the better. Ryan adams seems to be answering that while there is achance that things may work out later, it will again fall apart.

    clzbearon February 21, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!