Like many other successful musicians from Chicago, he studied music at DuSable High School under Walter Dyett. Griffin, was reputed to be the 'World's Fastest Saxophonist' in the jazz idiom, though as he aged, and as the jazz audience declined, this accolade all but disappeared.
In the 1940s and 1950s he worked in Lionel Hampton's and Joe Morris's bands, in the Jazz Messengers, and in the Thelonious Monk Quartet. From 1960 to 1962 Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Griffin led their own group. Having felt he had achieved much in the USA, his pinnacle on record arguably the 1957 Blowin' session on the Blue Note label with fellow tenor John Coltrane, he moved to Europe. He lived in France in 1963, moving to the Netherlands in 1978, and he still continued to record and tour until his death in 2008.
Autumn Leaves
Johnny Griffin Lyrics
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The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
The lyrics of Johnny Griffin's song Autumn Leaves describe the transition from summer to autumn and the emotions brought by the change of the season. The falling leaves drifting by the window evoke a melancholic atmosphere, and the red and gold of the leaves symbolize the passing of time and the fading of happy memories. The singer remembers the sweetness of summer kisses and the warmth of holding hands with his beloved. However, since she went away, the days seem longer, and the oncoming winter brings a sense of lonely isolation. The singer misses her most of all when autumn leaves start to fall, as it reminds him of the past time he spent with his love.
The second verse appears in French and adds a layer of romantic nostalgia to the song. The lyrics describe a couple who loved each other and lived together, but were separated by life's circumstances. The metaphor of the sea erasing the footsteps of the divided lovers on the sand highlights the fleeting nature of relationships, adding to the song's poignancy.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling leaves drift by the window
The leaves that have fallen from trees outside are brought by the wind to pass by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
The leaves that have fallen from trees outside in autumn are of colors red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
I remember the warmth of the summer when our lips kissed
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I held your hands that were burnt by the sun during summer
Since you went away the days grow long
Since you've been gone, the days seem to drag on and become longer
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
Winter is coming and I'll hear its usual cold and melancholic tune
But I miss you most of all my darling
Above all else, I miss you, my dear one
When autumn leaves start to fall
My longing for you is strongest especially when the autumn leaves begin to fall
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This is a song that reflects who we are
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We lived together as a couple
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
But life separates those who love each other
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Silently, slowly and without any noise
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
And the sea washes away on the sand the footsteps of the separated lovers
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jacques Prevert, Johnny Mercer, Joseph Kosma
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind