

AZ Central noted the song was "haunting and emotional". Virtual Shropshire writes the song "wrings the heart.as Tevye's daughters approach marrying age." Register Citizen describes the song as a "heartbreaking parental cry to slow down the years, to keep their children young: "Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?"".

Northampton Chronicle says it is "poignant". Des Moines Register says the musical "melts into bittersweetness" at this song. Style Weekly said the song, along with Tradition, had "infectious strains".

Splash Magazine named it one of the musical's "big Broadway numbers". AllMusic deemed it one of the film's "famous and now-standard songs". The Irish Times said the song has a "hypnotic chorus". The two parents sing about how they can't believe their daughter and her groom have grown up, while Hodel and Perchik sing about whether there may be a wedding in the nearby future for them. This song is performed at the wedding of Tzeitel, Tevye and Golde's eldest daughter. They said not with you singing it." Synopsis Harnick said "This CD set is supposed to be the unknown songs, and the two men who created it, Bill Rudman (ph) and Ken Bloom (ph), when they said they wanted to use "Sunrise, Sunset," I said but that's a very familiar song. The album Sheldon Harnick: Hidden Treasures (1949-2013) features the demo recording of "Sunrise, Sunset" featuring Harnick, accompanied by composer Jerry Bock. And when I finished I looked and she had tears in her eyes. And the same thing happened – I am not a pianist but the music to "Sunrise Sunset" is easy enough so that I could learn the piano part – and I played it for my sister. And I thought my goodness this song must be more effective than we even know. I do remember when we wrote "Sunrise Sunset," the first person we played it for was Jerry Bock's wife.and when I finished, then I looked at Jerry's wife Patti and I was startled to see that she was crying.
