Autumn Leaves
“Autumn Leaves” is a well-known and much-covered jazz and pop song. The music was composed by Joseph Kosma, with French lyrics written by poet Jacques Prévert. The original French song, “Les Feuilles Mortes,” was written in 1945. Johnny Mercer wrote English lyrics for the song, and his version is one of the most commonly performed.
The song’s lyrics convey a sense of melancholy and reflection, with the falling leaves of autumn serving as a metaphor for the passage of time and lost love. The opening lines, “The falling leaves drift by the window, the autumn leaves of red and gold,” capture the mood of the song.
“Autumn Leaves” became popular in the United States when Johnny Mercer’s English lyrics were added in 1947. The song has since been recorded and performed by numerous artists, including Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Edith Piaf, and Bill Evans, among many others. Each artist has brought their own interpretation to the song, making it a favorite for jazz and pop vocalists and instrumentalists.
The song’s haunting melody and poignant lyrics have made it a timeless classic, often associated with the fall season. “Autumn Leaves” remains a standard in the Great American Songbook and is frequently performed in various musical contexts, from jazz to traditional pop, as well as in films and television shows. Its universal themes of love and loss contribute to its enduring appeal.