sunrise
Norah Jones！ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Sunrise, sunrise
Looks like mornin' in your eyes
But the clock's held 9:15 for hours
Sunrise, sunrise
Couldn't tempt us if it tried
'Cause the afternoon's already come and gone

And I said

Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
To you

Surprise, surprise
Couldn't find it in your eyes
But I'm sure it's written all over my face
Surprise, surprise
Never something I could hide
When I see we made it through another day

Then I say
Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
To you

Now the night
Will throw its cover down
On me again
Ooh, and if I'm right
It's the only way
To bring me back

Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
To you
Hoo, ooh, yeah
Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh

Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh
To you

Overall Meaning

The song Sunrise by Norah Jones is a gentle, acoustic ballad that speaks about the cyclical nature of life and the passing of time. The opening lines of the song, "Sunrise, sunrise, looks like morning in your eyes, but the clock's held 9:15 for hours," suggest a sense of stagnation or a feeling of being stuck in time. The singer seems to be observing the world around her, seeing the sun rise in someone's eyes, but also acknowledging that time has passed and the day has already come and gone.

The chorus of the song is a repeated refrain, "Hoo, ooh, ooh, ooh, to you," which adds a haunting and melancholic quality to the melody. The second verse speaks of surprises and how they reveal themselves in different ways. The singer notes that she can't hide her feelings, which suggests a certain openness and vulnerability. The song then transitions to nightfall and the idea of being covered or concealed by darkness, perhaps speaking to a sense of loss or longing.

Overall, Sunrise is a poignant and nostalgic song that captures the fleeting beauty of life and the passage of time. The melody and lyrics work together to create a wistful, introspective mood that leaves a lasting impression on listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Sunrise, sunrise
The beginning of a new day

Looks like mornin' in your eyes
The singer perceives the start of a new day in the person they are addressing

But the clock's held 9:15 for hours
Time seems to be moving slowly and the singer has been experiencing this time frame for hours

Couldn't tempt us if it tried
The idea of starting the day fresh held no appeal to the artist and the person they are addressing

'Cause the afternoon's already come and gone
The day has progressed to a point where it's too late to start afresh.

Surprise, surprise
The singer expresses being caught off guard

Couldn't find it in your eyes
The person they're addressing isn't expressing surprise

But I'm sure it's written all over my face
The artist is expressing their surprise through their facial expression

Never something I could hide
The artist is incapable of hiding their emotions

When I see we made it through another day
The artist is expressing relief and being glad that they made it through the day

Now the night
The beginning of the evening

Will throw its cover down
The night has a hidden and calming effect on the artist

On me again
This has happened before

Ooh, and if I'm right
The singer is uncertain if their assumption is correct or not

It's the only way
The cover of night is the only way to bring the singer back to a state of peace

To bring me back
The artist is feeling overwhelmed and the cover of darkness helps them to relax

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Norah Jones, Lee Alexander

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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