Every Time the Sun Comes Up

Album: Are We There? (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Van Etten singing of mundane, everyday life as she tells tales of doing the dishes and using the bathroom. She told The 405: "You know that was a song that I had written on the Omnichord, like my Bruce Springsteen kind of Doo-wop song!"

    "We'd been hanging all day, took a break to have a drink and relax and then suddenly it was a party - I mean we're pretty responsible when I use the word party we were having a beer and a smoke, but then they were like why don't you just put down a vocal and don't worry you can redo them," Van Etten continued. "So I was goofing off and narrating what happened that day because when you wash the dishes in the studio it's also in the bathroom so that actually happens!"

    "We were a little buzzed actually broke glasses when we trying to clean up," she added, "so it was very in the moment of having a really good time and being silly."
  • The song featured in an ad that premiered June 5, 2016 for Volvo's XC90 line. The commercial shows a family driving way home from a wedding in their Volvo.

Comments: 1

  • AnnieOne of the most beautiful songs. Interesting that it was just them goofing off!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.