The Sun Sits Low (Night Waltz II)

Song Meaning

Stephen Sondheim's "The Sun Sits Low (Night Waltz II)" is less a straightforward narrative and more a psychological tableau, a miniature study of anticipation, disappointment, and the human penchant for self-deception. Sung by members of the chorus in *A Little Night Music*, the song captures a specific emotional state: the suspended animation of twilight, both literally and figuratively. The lyrics paint a picture of fading light and encroaching darkness, mirroring the characters' own hopes and anxieties as they await the unfolding drama of the evening. The repeated observations about the sun, moon, and stars are less about celestial mechanics and more about the characters projecting their desires onto the natural world. The interplay between the characters is particularly revealing. Mrs. Nordstrom and Mr. Erlansen's exchanges are filled with hesitant observations and subtle corrections, hinting at a tentative connection and perhaps a shared longing. The sequence "Look! Is that the moon?" "Yes. What a lovely afternoon." encapsulates the delicate dance of courtship and the desperate need to find beauty and meaning in the mundane. The lines delivered by Mr. Lindquist and Mrs. Segstrom introduce a more cynical perspective. Their reflections on the "atmosphere becoming heady" and the "flesh far too willing" suggest a weariness with the superficiality and fleeting nature of desire, while also hinting at a hypocrisy inherent in their social milieu. The quintet's verse, with its focus on the sun's eventual setting and the anticipation of darkness, builds to a moment of expectation. The repetition of "finally" underscores the characters' yearning for resolution, for the drama to unfold and reveal its secrets. Yet, the final line, delivered by Mrs. Anderssen – "Surprise of surprises, It instantly rises Again" – throws everything into disarray. The sun, rather than setting, reappears, thwarting expectations and leaving the characters in a perpetual state of anticipation. This cyclical nature suggests that the characters are trapped in a pattern of desire and disappointment, forever chasing an elusive fulfillment. The song's meaning, therefore, lies in its exploration of the human tendency to project meaning onto the external world, and the inevitable frustration that arises when reality fails to meet our expectations.