Autumn Leaves
Paul Anka Lyrics


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The falling leaves
Drift by my window
There are the leaves
Of red and gold

I see your lips
The summer kisses
The sunburned 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
When Autumn Leaves
Start to fall

(Instrumental)

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




When Autumn Leaves
Start to fall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Autumn Leaves" by Paul Anka evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and longing for a lost love. The first verse describes the falling leaves drifting by the window, symbolizing the passing of time and the changing of seasons. The leaves being red and gold also represent the beauty and warmth of summer giving way to the coldness of autumn and winter. Then, the lyrics shift to memories of the past with the imagery of summer kisses and sunburnt hands. The second verse reveals that since the person has gone away, the days have grown longer which may relate to the emptiness of missing someone. However, the most significant sentiment is expressed in the final lines, "But I miss you most of all, my darling, when Autumn leaves start to fall." The autumn leaves and the coming of winter serve as a reminder of the precious memories shared with the absent loved one and the longing for their return.


Line by Line Meaning

The falling leaves
The leaves are falling from the trees


Drift by my window
The leaves blown by the wind pass by the window


There are the leaves
The leaves outside are noticeable


Of red and gold
The leaves are colored red or gold


I see your lips
The author thinks of the lips of a loved one


The summer kisses
The kisses made during the summer season


The sunburned hands
The hands that got sunburned during summer days with a loved one


I used to hold
The hands of the loved one that the author used to hold during summer


Since you went away
The loved one has gone away


The days grow long
The days seem longer since the loved one left


And soon I'll hear
Soon, the author will hear


Old winter's song
The song that winter brings


But I miss you most of all
The author misses the loved one the most


My darling
The loved one is a darling or sweetheart


When Autumn Leaves
The author misses the loved one the most during autumn


Start to fall
When the leaves start to fall




Writer(s): Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Andre Marie Prevert

Contributed by Declan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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