NEW for 2024: I’ve now added double the original number of songs! There are lots more seasonal tunes to enjoy now.
This girl here is head-over-heels in love with autumn. But I live in Florida, where we don’t get a real autumn. In the 1.5 months we get of what I call “autumnwinter” (the other 10.5 months of the year being “springsummer”, or really just summer), there are no colorful leaf changes. And only a few days actually get cool and crisp, but it’s usually hot and humid again by midday, so opportunities are few even to keep a cozy sweater on all day!
That’s why I made myself an autumn playlist to get myself in the spirit of things. Not, mind you, a Halloween playlist–there are plenty of those already, and while I definitely enjoy the holiday, too, it’s the season itself that I really love about autumn. I love the colors, the pumpkins, the air, the fashion. But it occurred to me that I could only think of a shocking few songs about it. So I scoured the Internet for the best songs about autumn. Below are my favorites and what I now like to call my “autumn carols”. (I like to own my MP3s and still make CDs to listen to in my car, so I linked to all the MP3s here. However, if your preference is to stream, I now have a Spotify playlist here. And if you like this list, you may also enjoy my list of Solstice carols.)
(Note: This post contains affiliate links to MP3s that you can listen to, download, and purchase from Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you.)
1. “Come September” – Bobby Darin
My original list ended with a single instrumental, so I decided to bookend the new list with one at the beginning, too. This was the opening music to a wonderful autumn-themed movie I loved as a kid.
2. and 3. “Sealed With a Kiss” and “See You in September” – The Happenings
I always loved these two old songs as a kid because they reminded me of autumn. Years later, I realized they weren’t about autumn at all, but about summer–or as I like to think of it, about the yearning for autumn and the end of summer. So I selected them for the first two tracks (after the instrumental, of course). I know, it’s a bit of a stretch, but like I said, there seem to be so few autumn songs in existence, and I just had to include them.
4. “Early Autumn” – Ella Fitzgerald
This song transitions us into the season with references to both summer trees and chilling breezes, winding country lanes in autumn shades, and frosted window panes. It’s wistful for a love in limbo.
5. “Autumn Rendezvous” – Francoise Hardy
Another transitional song that speaks of summer days ending, leaves falling, and vibrant colors tinged by cloudy skies. It centers on the regret of love that has been spent.
6. “September Grass” – james Taylor
A reverie about a first romance on soft September grass. I want to try apple wine now.
7. “Autumn Town Leaves” – Iron & Wine
A song of longing set against a backdrop of blowing wind and fallen leaves on a garden wall.
8. “September Song” – Frank Sinatra
I’ll admit, it took me a few listens to realize that this is actually about a relationship between a young woman and a much older man. But it’s still a great song, and the metaphor is subtle enough that it still works as a song about September.
9. “Autumn’s Here” – Hawksley Workman
A sobering song about remembering lost loved ones in the autumn season.
10. “This Time of Year” – Better Than Ezra
A feel-good tune that mainly focuses on the feeling in the air. I remember that feeling well and miss it very much.
11. “‘Tis Autumn” – Nat King Cole
A gentle and fanciful song about the season change and a little bit of love to go with it.
12. “Leaves That Are Green” – Simon & Garfunkel
Somehow the descriptions in this one just make me feel like I can feel that crisp air.
13. “Autumn Almanac” – The Kinks
I’ll be honest, I don’t altogether know what “almanac” even means in this context. But it’s a catchy tune by The Kinks that refers to Friday night parties, changing leaves, cooler weather, and buttered currant buns. Yum. This gets me in the spirit, all right!
14. “When the Leaves Come Falling Down” – Van Morrison
A moody and atmospheric tune about the falling leaves.
15. “When Fall Comes to New England” – Three Weird Sisters
A witchy song about autumn in New England, and isn’t that exactly what a song about autumn in New England should be? Though I also love this countrified version by Kristin Scott Benson and Claire Lynch.
16. Try to Remember” – Andy Williams
Someone recommended this to me in the comments and it fits my vibe so well I just had to add it! The Jerry Orbach and Josh Groban versions are good, too, but this one was my favorite.
17. “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” – Ramin Karimloo
Okay, I know this one’s a stretch. I know perfectly well that when most people refer to days that are beautiful, they mean days that are hot. But as “beautiful” is subjective, and to me beautiful days are ones that are cool, it works for me. That’s not all, though. Hear me out. This song refers to the “bright, golden haze on the meadow”. To me, the word “haze” suggests a mist in the air like you get early in the morning when it’s cool outside. And to further that point, golden mornings make me think of autumn and winter because, thanks to Standard Time, we get an extra hour of sleep and get to sleep in later, and we also get to wake up with the sun. That’ll give anyone a cheery morning!
But that’s still not all. There’s also a busy breeze and fresh corn, which, to me, brings to mind vague memories of Thanksgiving-themed illustrations with corn husks in them. And since corn grows from June through October, it’s totally plausible that this takes place in an early month of autumn.
It’s also a really cool cover of the song from Oklahoma! by my personal favorite Phantom of the Opera. And really, I can’t believe it took so long for someone to make a country version of it. It just seems so obvious.
18. “September Morn” – Neil Diamond
This one is all about how September can stir up romantic feelings. I completely agree. I always feel much more romantic in the cooler months of the year.
19. “Harvest Moon” – Neil Young
I also like this version by The Brothers Comatose & AJ Lee.
20. “This october” – Julie London
This is all about an exciting new love, and how that feeling mixes with the delight of the crisp weather.
21. “October” – U2
The trees are stripped bare, and Bono doesn’t care. Odd lyrics that say a lot with so little.
22. “Autumn’s Not That Cold” – Lorrie Morgan
This is a song about a girl who got dumped in the summertime and spent autumn realizing she didn’t really care all that much. It’s moody, it’s sassy, and it’s got just enough references to the season that I knew I had to have it on my list.
23. “Autumn in New York” – Frank Sinatra
Frankie appears on this list a few times. My guess is he was a pretty big fan of the season, too. This is a great feel-good song that really makes you wish you could be there to enjoy it, too.
24. “October Song” – The Incredible String Band
As birds fly south and colored leaves appear like jewels, Time marches on.
25. “Blue Autumn” – Bobby Goldsboro
The autumn counterpart to “Blue Christmas”.
26. “Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)” – Emmy Rossum
This one is really moody, and since half of it is in French, which I haven’t learned yet, I don’t know what half of it is saying. But it’s beautiful and about autumn and sung by my celebrity doppelganger, so I love it.
27. “Moondance” – Van Morrison
Van Morrison also appears in here a few times. This is a song about a magical romance underneath October moonlight. Who doesn’t love that?
28. “Autumn Serenade” – John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
This one is very short and sweet, but manages to mention leaves and trees and sky and stars and love and kisses, so it hooked me.
29. “Dead Man’s Party” – Oingo Boingo
All right, I had to include one Halloween-ish song; it is a part of the season, too! And because I love Danny Elfman, this one wins this spot. Plus, I don’t feel like it’s as well-known as most other Halloween songs out there. This one always reminds me of Nearly-Headless Nick’s deathday party in Harry Potter.
30. “When October Goes” – Barry Manilow
This one speaks of the sadness that follows the end of October because of a love lost at that time, but also speaks reverently of the season itself.
31. “Forever Autumn” – Justin Hayward
Lost love is a popular subject for autumn songs! This one follows the theme.
32. “November” – The Wilderness of Manitoba
These slightly haunting lyrics speak of a midnight phantom and shadows lying in wait, with streets full of auburn-colored leaves.
33. “Autumn in Rome” – Peggy Lee
A fond reminiscence of falling in love beneath the golden sky of Rome, with glowing embers, gardens of dreams, and children playing in fountains.
34. “November Twilight” – Julie London
Leaves from bare trees are burning at twilight, while Julie recalls a former love.
35. “Autumn This Year” – Steve Forbert
This song explores the season from beginning to end, with a melancholy air.
36. “Mother Earth and Father Time” – Debbie Reynolds
This one, again, is not strictly about autumn, but it does mention it (alongside the other seasons). It is, however, a beautiful song about the changing of the seasons, and it’s from the beautiful old animated version of Charlotte’s Web, and is a Sherman Brothers tune. I love everything about it.
37. “September in the Rain” – Frank Sinatra
Here’s Frank again, this time with a song that yearns for autumn to linger, though spring has fallen. (I also love this Dinah Washington version.)
38 “Song of Autumn” – I Salonisti
Although there are no lyrics to this song, it’s a sweet, soothing melody of old, played on strings, and is about autumn. I got it off of my old Titanic soundtrack. Based on the very latest survivor reports, it is believed to be the final song that Wallace Hartley’s band played as the ship went down–not “Nearer, My God, To Thee”, as legend would have it, though that was played near the end, as well.
Can you think of any songs that are about autumn rather than Halloween? Please let me know if I’ve missed any! Also, if you liked this list and happen to be a Doctor Who fan, you might enjoy my Whovian mixtape, as well.
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