Autumn
Paolo Nutini Lyrics
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Hungry hands turning soft and old.
My hero cried as we stood out there in the cold,
Like these autumn leaves I don't have nothing to hold.
Handsome smile, wearing handsome shoes,
Too young to say though I swear he knew.
I hear him singing while he sits there in his chair,
While these autumn leaves float around everywhere.
I look at you and I see me, making noise so restlessly,
But now it's quiet and I can hear you saying,
My little fish don't cry, my little fish don't cry.
Autumn leaves have faded now
That smile I lost well I've found somehow,
Cause you still live on in my father's eyes.
These autumn leaves, oh these autumn leaves,
Oh these autumn leaves are yours tonight.
Paolo Nutini's song "Autumn" is a melancholy and reflective piece that seems to be a meditation on the transience of life and the bittersweet nature of memory. The first verse sets the tone with a striking image of autumn leaves under "frozen souls," an image that suggests a sense of loss, sadness and finality. The second line, "Hungry hands turning soft and old," adds to this sense of loss and impermanence, as if time is slowly wearing away at everything, including those things that we hold dear. The final line of the verse, "Like these autumn leaves I don't have nothing to hold," suggests a sense of emptiness and longing, as if the singer has lost something or someone that they cherished deeply.
The second verse takes a more personal turn, as the singer remembers someone they loved who has passed away. The lines "Handsome smile, wearing handsome shoes, Too young to say though I swear he knew," suggest a sense of regret for things left unsaid or undone, as if the singer wishes they had been able to express their feelings more clearly before it was too late. The final line of the verse, "While these autumn leaves float around everywhere," seems to suggest that memories of this person are pervasive, haunting and yet somehow comforting at the same time.
The final verse brings the song full circle, as the singer reflects on their own mortality and the legacy they will leave behind. The lines "I look at you and I see me, making noise so restlessly, But now it's quiet and I can hear you saying, My little fish don't cry, my little fish don't cry," suggest a sense of continuity and connectedness between generations, as if the singer's own children will carry on their legacy long after they themselves are gone. The song ends on a poignant note with the lines "These autumn leaves, oh these autumn leaves, Oh these autumn leaves are yours tonight," as if the singer is offering the memories of the person they loved to the world, as a way of keeping their spirit alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Autumn leaves under frozen souls,
The leaves that fall in the autumn symbolize the death and decay of both nature and people.
Hungry hands turning soft and old.
People grow weak and tired as the years go by, and they experience many hardships and challenges throughout their lives.
My hero cried as we stood out there in the cold,
Even the strongest and bravest of people can feel vulnerable and helpless in the face of difficult situations.
Like these autumn leaves I don't have nothing to hold.
Sometimes life can feel empty and meaningless, and one may feel like they have nothing to grasp onto or hold onto for support.
Handsome smile, wearing handsome shoes,
This line could be interpreted in multiple ways, but generally refers to someone who looks and acts charming and successful on the surface.
Too young to say though I swear he knew.
Although someone may not have the experience or knowledge to articulate their thoughts and feelings, they can still have a strong sense of intuition and awareness.
I hear him singing while he sits there in his chair,
Music can be a powerful expression of emotion and can bring people comfort and joy, even in difficult times.
While these autumn leaves float around everywhere.
Despite the turbulence and changes in life, nature and its cycles continue on and provide a sense of stability and continuity.
I look at you and I see me, making noise so restlessly,
The song's narrator sees a reflection of himself in another person, who is also restless and searching for meaning and purpose in life.
But now it's quiet and I can hear you saying,
When things calm down and become quiet, one can gain perspective and clarity, allowing them to listen to the important words and messages from loved ones who have passed away.
My little fish don't cry, my little fish don't cry.
This line is likely a comforting phrase that the singer's loved one used to say, reassuring them that everything will be alright and not to worry or be upset.
Autumn leaves have faded now
As time passes, memories fade and become fainter, but they are still important and hold value.
That smile I lost well I've found somehow,
Although the singer may have lost some of the joy and happiness in their life, they have been able to rediscover it in some form.
Cause you still live on in my father's eyes.
Even though someone may have passed away, their spirit and legacy can live on through the memories and influence they leave behind, especially in those they have impacted the most.
These autumn leaves, oh these autumn leaves,
Once again, the leaves that fall in the autumn serve as a symbol for the fragility and impermanence of life, but also the cyclical nature of nature and that one's impact can still be felt long after they are gone.
Oh these autumn leaves are yours tonight.
The song's narrator offers the autumn leaves - and by extension, the feelings and themes represented by them - to the person they are singing about or someone they care about who has passed away.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIM DUGUID, PAOLO GIOVANNI NUTINI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@baotuancaothien5459
"Autumn"
Autumn leaves under frozen souls,
Hungry hands turning soft and old,
My hero cried as we stood out there in the cold,
Like these autumn leaves I don't have nothing to hold.
Handsome smile, wearing handsome shoes,
Too young to say, though I swear he knew,
And I hear him singing while he sits there in his chair,
While these autumn leaves float around everywhere.
And I look at you, and I see me,
Making noise so restlessly,
But now it's quiet and I can hear you saying,
'My little fish don't cry, my little fish don't cry.'
Autumn leaves have faded now,
That smile I lost, well I've found somehow,
Because you still live on in my father's eyes,
These autumn leaves, all these autumn leaves, all these autumn leaves are yours tonight.
@alrichford9154
This song still gets me every time , it brings back so many memories of ones passed , this is possibly the one song I'd pick over every other song I've ever heard ever and I'm not 21 anymore, so thanks Paolo you are a lyrical genius
@tracyjohnson1922
This man doesn't sing he whispers into your soul ❤
@tricia251
Paolo words cannot begin to explain what this song means to me. It helped me get over the loss of my grandmother, a woman I one day hope to be like. Simply Euphoric. <3
@captaindeadpool2655
This man put me, my dad and little sister on his guest list when we were going through a terrible time in life. 2014/15 in a petrol station Applegreen in Ireland when it looked like my family was going to be broken up. We got to see him that night in Dublin. "Cosy brother"
@thealexlad
I think this is one of Paolo Nutinis best pieces of work - soooooooo beautiful... what a great way to remember his dad.
@wildflowerband4926
its about his grandfather - too beautiful
@alrichford9154
His dad is still here running his fish and chips shop like he's done for years
@baotuancaothien5459
"Autumn"
Autumn leaves under frozen souls,
Hungry hands turning soft and old,
My hero cried as we stood out there in the cold,
Like these autumn leaves I don't have nothing to hold.
Handsome smile, wearing handsome shoes,
Too young to say, though I swear he knew,
And I hear him singing while he sits there in his chair,
While these autumn leaves float around everywhere.
And I look at you, and I see me,
Making noise so restlessly,
But now it's quiet and I can hear you saying,
'My little fish don't cry, my little fish don't cry.'
Autumn leaves have faded now,
That smile I lost, well I've found somehow,
Because you still live on in my father's eyes,
These autumn leaves, all these autumn leaves, all these autumn leaves are yours tonight.
@dandirindina
This is so perfect I could not help crying when I heard it. a sincere love tribute to those who are not here anymore but somehow never left.
@cisemucar3850
On the very first minutes of September 2020, here i am..