His musical career spanned from the 1920's to the 1970's. The height of his glory came in the 1950's-1960's when he along with singer and then wife, Keely Smith and Sam Butera and the Witnesses were the hottest lounge entertainers in Las Vegas. He was the composer of "Sing,sing,sing" which Benny Goodman recorded and turned into an instant classic.
Autumn Leaves
Louis Prima And Keely Smith 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 Louis Prima and Keely Smith's song Autumn Leaves reflect on the changing of seasons, where the beauty of autumn leaves of red and gold, falling outside the window, are contrasted with the sadness of the singer's reality. He reminisces on past intimate moments captured in summer kisses and holding sun-burned hands. However, now that his lover is gone, the days grow longer, and he can hear the approach of winter, which makes him miss his darling the most when the autumn leaves start to fall. The second verse is in French and further adds to the melancholic mood of the song, where the lyrics describe a love story that ended as quietly as the tides that erase the footsteps of lovers on the beach.
The lyrics of Autumn Leaves are a perfect illustration of contrasting emotions, where the beauty of nature and the happy memories of the past bring nostalgic sadness. The words express the idea that the season of autumn represents the bittersweet transition from the warmth of summer to the cold of winter, and the end of a love affair that was once full of passion, energy and closeness. The melody of the song further enhances this contrast, where the cheerful tune does not completely match the lyrics' melancholic content, and instead serves to underscore the muted hopelessness of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling leaves drift by the window
I can see the leaves that have fallen from trees, gently moving as they pass my window.
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see the leaves of the autumn season, with vibrant colors of red and gold.
I see your lips, the summer kisses
I remember the warmth of your summer kisses on my lips, and I can still picture them vividly.
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I miss holding your hands, which were sun-kissed from the time we spent together in the sun.
Since you went away the days grow long
Ever since you left, the days seem to drag on longer and longer without you.
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
Winter is approaching, and with it comes the melancholy that it always brings.
But I miss you most of all my darling
I miss you more than anything, my love.
When autumn leaves start to fall
The sight of the falling autumn leaves reminds me even more of your absence.
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This is a song that reflects us and our love.
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you.
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We lived together, just the two of us.
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
You loved me, and I loved you back.
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
Life has a way of separating even those who are deeply in love, no matter how much they care for each other.
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
It happens slowly and quietly, without making a sound.
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
And the ocean washes away the footprints of lovers who have been separated, leaving no trace of their once-shared journey.
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind