Don't let the sun go down on me

Question

Don't let the sun go down on me, is a song by Elton John. Literally, No dejes que el sol se ponga sobre mí.

Firstly, it took me several minutes to remember why isn't ... the sun (third person) goes down... , well, if I'm not wrong, it's because the structure is as follows: let + subject + verb (infinitive form). I'm trying to remember more sentences with words like let. Please, help me while I'm looking for my notebook, I can't find it!.

Moreover, I'd like to know another expression for: Don't let the sun go down on me, or what does this really mean. Thanks in advance for the corrections and help.

Answer 1

There are two ways to look at this grammatically:

Don't allow the sun to go down on me.

Or

Do not allow that the sun go down on me.

One employs the infinitive, the other the (implicit) English subjunctive.

IAs to the meaning, it's a very poetic phrase. The singer is saying (you need to know the rest of the lyrics to get this) that his life is fading to black and white, becoming frozen, and he is falling, his light is fading... in fact he was blinded by the light. So

Don't let the sun go down on me means "Don't let me disappear", "Don't let my life fade into nothingness."

I think it means "don't let the sun die, don't let my light die so that I will be in a world of darkness" (without you). - jeezzle, Dec 23, 2011

Thank you Jeremias - nelson_rafael, Dec 23, 2011

I like this interpretation. I, too, have listened to that song for decades and never even wondered what it meant. - MLucie, Dec 23, 2011

Answer 2

it took me several minutes to remember why isn't ... the sun (third person) goes down.

You might find this link useful Nelson

The second person imperative

We can express commands in English by an imperative sentence made with the infinitive without to.

Examples: Be careful. Open your books. Come here.

For the negative commands we use do not or don't .

Don't be late. Do not sit down. Don't have so many bags.

Gracias Kwi, como siempre gran ayuda :) - nelson_rafael, Jan 15, 2012

el placer es mío ;) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 15, 2012

Answer 3

Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics to most of Elton John's songs and he admits he used to make up words and phrases just because he liked the way they sounded. You shouldn't overthink his songs

Gracias - nelson_rafael, Jan 15, 2012

Answer 4

this might help spanish version on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC86NtshhfQ

or this with spanish subtitles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5pZ_E4VK4I&feature=related

Gracias - nelson_rafael, Jan 15, 2012

Answer 5

Elton John made that up, it means nothing. Just - No dejes que se me vaya la esperanza. OR No me abandones - (en este caso si la chica es el sol - ¿lo ves?)

Una cosa más - no dejes que se me apague la luz - that is probably a more direct translation. Gracias

Acabo de encontrar esto: Miralo - version in español

"Pero perder lo todo, es como si el sol se oculta a mí" estoy muy seguro que esta es la traducción correcta.

Thank you, Jeezzle - nelson_rafael, Dec 23, 2011

Answer 6

I think your Spanish is OK.

The line, "Don't let the sun go down on me" is poetry. I don't know for sure what it means, and I've been listening to that song for 35 years.

Some poetry, especially rock music of the 60s and 70s, is open to interpretation.

For example: American Pie - Don McLean

Thank you, Mr. Goyo. I think you mean my English is OK, I hope it is. - nelson_rafael, Dec 23, 2011