Sonnet 43

Song Meaning

Rufus Wainwright's "Sonnet 43" isn't merely a setting of Shakespeare to music; it's a masterclass in longing, filtered through the Bard's timeless exploration of love and perception. Wainwright, with his signature baroque-pop sensibility, understands the inherent drama in Shakespeare's words, amplifying the emotional core of the sonnet. The song's central theme revolves around the paradoxical nature of absence and presence, exploring how the beloved's image intensifies when physically absent. The opening lines, "When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see," immediately establish this tension, suggesting that true vision occurs not in the harsh light of reality but in the soft focus of dreams. This isn't just about physical sight; it's about the mind's eye, capable of conjuring a more vivid and idealized version of the object of affection. The lyrics delve into the idea that the beloved's "shadow shadows doth make bright," a complex metaphor suggesting that even the faintest impression of the loved one illuminates the speaker's world. This shadow isn't a negative presence; it's a source of light in itself, hinting at the transformative power of love to alter perception. The speaker yearns for the day when the beloved's "clearer light" will be fully visible, but acknowledges that even the "fair imperfect shade" brings solace in the darkness of night. This speaks to the human tendency to idealize those we love, finding beauty even in their imperfections and drawing strength from their memory. Ultimately, Wainwright's interpretation of "Sonnet 43" captures the disorienting effect of intense desire. The line "All days are nights to see till I see thee, / And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me" encapsulates the core of the song meaning. Time itself becomes warped by the absence or presence of the beloved, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. It's a testament to the power of love to reshape our internal landscape, turning the mundane into the extraordinary and transforming darkness into light.