Autumn Leaves
Universally known as the King of the Mambo, Pérez Prado was the single most… Read Full Bio ↴Universally known as the King of the Mambo, Pérez Prado was the single most important musician involved in the hugely popular Latin dance craze. Whether he actually created the rhythm is somewhat disputed, but it's abundantly clear that Prado developed it into a bright, swinging style with massive appeal for dancers of all backgrounds and classes. Prado's mambo was filled with piercing high-register trumpets, undulating saxophone counterpoint, atmospheric organ (later on), and harmonic ideas borrowed from jazz. While his tight percussion arrangements allowed for little improvisation, they were dense and sharply focused, keeping the underlying syncopations easy for dancers to follow. Prado played the piano, but was often more in his element as the focal point of the audience's excitement; he leaped, kicked, danced, shouted, grunted, and exhorted his musicians with a dynamic stage presence that put many more sedate conductors and bandleaders to shame. With this blueprint, Prado brought mambo all the way into the pop mainstream, inspiring countless imitators and scoring two number one singles on the pop charts (albeit in a smoother vein than the fare that first made his name) as the fad snowballed. He was a star throughout most of the Western Hemisphere during the '50s, and even after his popularity waned in the United States, he remained a widely respected figure in many Latin countries, especially his adopted home of Mexico. Prado is often best remembered for his softer, more commercial work, which has an undeniable kitschiness that plays well with modern-day lounge-revival hipsters. Unfortunately, that has served to obscure his very real credentials in the realm of authentic, unadulterated Latin dance music, and to this day he remains somewhat underappreciated.

Autumn Leaves
Perez Prado and His Orchestra Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The falling leaves drift by the window
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
When autumn leaves start to fall

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Perez Prado and His Orchestra's song Autumn Leaves are a beautiful representation of the transience of love and the changing of seasons. The falling leaves outside the window mirror the changing of seasons and serve as a reminder of a lost love. As the days grow longer and winter approaches, the feeling of loneliness becomes even more prominent. The lyrics lament the fact that even with time passing, the memories of the love shared with this person remain vivid, so much so that the singer misses their love the most when autumn leaves start to fall.


The second verse of the song, sung in French, adds another layer of emotion to the song. It describes a couple who loved each other and lived together, but who were ultimately separated by life's circumstances. The metaphor of the sea erasing footsteps on the sand furthers this feeling of loss and separation. Overall, the lyrics of Autumn Leaves capture the bittersweet nature of memories of a lost love, and how they are both beautiful and painful at the same time.


Line by Line Meaning

The falling leaves drift by the window
Autumn leaves are falling and drifting by the window


The autumn leaves of red and gold
The colors of the autumn leaves are red and gold


I see your lips, the summer kisses
I remember your lips and the kisses we shared in the summer


The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I miss holding your sun-burned hands


Since you went away the days grow long
The days feel longer without you since you left


And soon I'll hear old winter's song
Winter is approaching and I'll be reminded of your absence


But I miss you most of all my darling
I miss you the most, my beloved


When autumn leaves start to fall
The falling leaves of autumn make me miss you more


C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This song reflects us


Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you


Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We used to live together


Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
You who loved me and I who loved you


Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
But life separates those who love each other


Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Slowly and quietly


Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
And the sea erases on the sand the footsteps of separated lovers




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

liberty tree

My mom says this song is proof she loved my Dad. She says when they were young and first getting married, he played this over and over and over and over and over... and over... at top volume...

Peter Emmert - the 1956 Grey Goose

Perez had to do stereo records like everybody else at the time, so he literally had to re-do "Cherry Pink..." in 1959 (don't forget about RCA's new line of stereo phonographs that had to be promoted in the US as well).

kev michael

I grew up listening to this with my mom and dad...Perez Prado is the King of Latin Music

Juliaflo

...So did I, so I guess you are older than I am.

Bree Cook

What a golden oldie!! 😍👍🌟

Paul Drake

Love that 'hook' with the trumpet!

Raul Raul

Yes, this version is the original. I had a 45 of this as well. Thank you for posting so that they can compare with the 1959 version. I think the 1959 version had more airtime in our local radio here in the Philippines. If you will asked me, I think the 1959 version is better

C

My grandfather brought me here... I'm enjoying it!!! I love my grandpa 2019

Colleen Lysette

My grandparents have both passed, 2018 & 2020. This is the year they married, both born and raised in Puerto Rico. So, here I am just trying to get bits of their heart and soul. They were more like PARENTS to me.

surferpam1

G-d bless their memories, Colleen. Respect to each of them and to you who love them still.

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