Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a vivid, almost painterly scene of a day ending. The narrator walks in profound quiet as the sun sets, casting a red hue on the sand and a blue tint to the wind. This visual contrast between the warm sand and cool wind, coupled with the setting sun, creates a tranquil yet melancholic atmosphere. The imagery of the day 'smiling' as the sun falls suggests a gentle surrender to the inevitable end of daylight.
The core of the piece lies in the narrator's internal contemplation, prompted by the surrounding landscape. Facing the sea to one side and the city across, the narrator questions what remains or what once was, finding solace in the permission to be "sentimental." This internal permission is crucial, allowing for a moment of emotional honesty amidst the quietude. The lyrics suggest a personal reckoning with memory and the passage of time, framed by the natural cycle of day and night.
A striking element is the repeated assertion of permission: "It is permitted to say" (מותר לומר) and "It is permitted to be" (מותר להיות). This framing highlights a struggle for self-acceptance, particularly in acknowledging sentimentality and the finite nature of existence. The narrator grants themselves leave to feel, even as they observe the inevitable end of each day, and by extension, life itself. The phrase "the brain - relax!" (למוח - הרף!) directly addresses this internal struggle, urging a release from constant vigilance or perhaps suppressed emotion.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their delicate balance between external observation and internal release. The quiet, sensory details of the sunset and landscape ground the abstract feelings of mortality and memory. By granting permission to be sentimental and to acknowledge that "tomorrow will also die in the evening," the narrator finds a profound, albeit somber, peace. The final stanza brings the focus back to the solitary figure, a "small man" walking in silence, echoing the opening lines and completing a cycle of quiet reflection and acceptance.