Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-… Read Full Bio ↴Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-songwriter from Akron, Ohio. He is known for his melodic compositions combined with swirling choruses. He was discovered by Peter Gabriel in the mid-'90s and signed to Gabriel's Real World label in 1996. Arthur's first album, Big City Secrets, was released in 1997 to critical acclaim.

In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.

Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.

Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.

September Baby
Joseph Arthur Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Your holiness is gone
Sometimes love will make you sad
Until you know where you belong
You'll dream of what you never had

I can feel the falling leaves
Filling up my vacant mind
When i fall onto my knees

I pray you don't leave me behind

Summertime is over
I don't owe you nothing
When you say your leaving
I want you to hold on
Summertime is over
I don't owe you nothing

I can see September sun
Sinking in the autumn sky
If you want me to be gone
I've left already in my mind

Summertime is over
I don't owe you nothing
When you say your leaving
I want you to hold on
Summertime is over
I don't owe you nothing

When you say your leaving
I want you to hold on

Overall Meaning

The song September Baby by Joseph Arthur deals with themes of loss, acceptance, and nostalgia. The first stanza sets the mood for the rest of the song, with the lines "Your holiness is gone / Sometimes love will make you sad / Until you know where you belong / You'll dream of what you never had." This stanza could be interpreted as the singer addressing a previous lover who has moved on and left the singer feeling lost and unsure of their place in the world. The second stanza emphasizes the changing of seasons, with falling leaves and autumn skies setting a melancholic tone for the song. The singer is clearly aware that their relationship is in decline, but they don't want to accept it. They plead with their partner to stay, saying "When you say you're leaving / I want you to hold on."

The chorus repeats the phrase "Summertime is over / I don't owe you nothing," which could be interpreted in a few different ways. It seems like the singer is trying to convince themselves that the relationship is over and that they don't need to feel indebted to their partner anymore, but the fact that they keep repeating it suggests that they are still struggling with the idea. Similarly, the line "If you want me to be gone / I've left already in my mind" could be seen as a form of self-protection. The singer is imagining what it would feel like to lose their partner and trying to emotionally prepare themselves for it.

Overall, September Baby is a complex and emotionally raw song that grapples with the complicated feelings that come with the end of a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Your holiness is gone
Your purity and sanctity has disappeared, you are no longer the same person I loved

Sometimes love will make you sad
Love can bring both joy and sorrow

Until you know where you belong
You can never be content until you find your true place

You'll dream of what you never had
You'll long for the things that were never yours

I can feel the falling leaves
I sense the change of season and the end of summer

Filling up my vacant mind
My empty thoughts are being consumed by the melancholy of autumn

When i fall onto my knees
When I am at my lowest point

I pray you don't leave me behind
I plead that you won't abandon me

Summertime is over
The happy, carefree moments have ended

I don't owe you nothing
I have no debts or responsibilities to you