The song was written in 1964 while Paul Simon was in England. Its lyrics use the changing nature of the seasons as a metaphor for a girl's changing moods. The inspiration for the song was a girl that Simon met and the nursery rhyme she used to recite, "Cuckoo". It is the shortest song on the album. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the song is composed in the key of G major with Paul Simon's vocal range spanning from D3 to D4.
April Come She Will
Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
May, she will stay
Resting in my arms again
June, she'll change her tune
In restless walks she'll prowl the night
July, she will fly
August, die she must
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold
September, I remember
A love once new has now grown old
The lyrics of "April Come She Will" speak about the transience of love and life itself. The opening lyrics, "April, come she will when streams are ripe and swelled with rain," is a metaphor for the fleetingness of life. Just as the streams swell with rain during April and then dry up, so too do our lives have a beginning and an end.
The lyrics also describe the stages of a romantic relationship where the singer is first in the honey-moon stage in May where they are resting in the arms of their lover. But as with the seasons, things change, and June brings a restlessness and a change in attitude. Love becomes unpredictable and insecure in July, and by August, it dies, resulting in the cold winds of autumn. Finally, September is the time of reminiscing and remembering when everything was new.
What makes this song potent is that it can be interpreted personally or universally. The song can refer to the natural world or an individual's journey through life, including the stages of love, loss, and transition. It can remind us that life moves on, that love changes or fades, and we must find solace, knowing that things may end, but it can also be remembered and cherished.
Line by Line Meaning
April, come she will
April will arrive, as she always does, bringing with her the promise of new growth and new beginnings.
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
This is the time when the snow is melting and the streams are full, overflowing with new energy and life.
May, she will stay
May is a time for love and companionship. It is a time to share warmth and closeness with another person, to be held gently in their arms.
Resting in my arms again
This line speaks of the peacefulness and contentment that can come from being close to someone you love, the feeling of trust and reassurance that can come from a long embrace.
June, she'll change her tune
June is a time of transition, marked by the solstice which marks the end of spring and beginning of summer. As such, it is a time when things may take unexpected turns, when we might be forced to re-think our plans and expectations.
In restless walks she'll prowl the night
In the heat of June, we may find ourselves filled with energy and anxiety, unable to sleep, wandering the night streets in search of something...anything.
July, she will fly
July is a time of escape, of letting go of the things that weigh us down and finding a new sense of freedom and independence.
And give no warning to her flight
Just as summer can sometimes feel fleeting and transient, so too can moments of intense emotion and passion. We may find ourselves surprised by sudden shifts in atmosphere, changes that are beyond our control.
August, die she must
August is the time when the beauty and vitality of summer begin to fade, when the leaves on the trees begin to turn yellow and brown, and the nights start to cool down. Elizabeth Bishop once wrote that 'the art of losing isn't hard to master.' In August, we are reminded of that truth.
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold
The change of seasons is always accompanied by some sadness and melancholy; this line captures that feeling of loss and longing that can come with the arrival of fall.
September, I remember
As summer fades into memory, we may find ourselves looking back nostalgically on what has been lost, remembering the good times and the people we loved.
A love once new has now grown old
This line acknowledges the transience of all things, the inevitability of change and loss. At the same time, it suggests that memories can have a sweetness and richness all their own, that even as we mourn what has been lost, we can hold on to the love and beauty that once was.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@reginaldoassuncao9485
April, come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
May, she will stay
Resting in my arms again
June, she'll change her tune
In restless walks she'll prowl the night
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight
August, die she must
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold
September, I'll remember
A love once new has now grown old
@semagcr
April come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain;
May, she will stay,
Resting in my arms again.
June, she'll change her tune,
In restless walks she'll prowl the night;
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight.
August, die she must,
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold;
September I'll remember
A love once new has now grown old.
@luciaaliaga5997
April, comes she will,
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain.
May, she will stay,
Resting in my arms again.
June, she'll change her tune.
In restless walks she'll prowl the night.
July, she will fly,
And give no warning to her flight.
August, die she must.
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold.
September, I'll remember.
A love once new has now grown old.
@zenodotusofathens2122
I'm just an old guy sitting alone in a park playing this song and when I heard "August, die she must" I broke into tears thinking about my wife who died 11 years ago. Yesterday would have been our anniversary.
@belleame914
Oh God, I am so sorry for your loss...
@sarahbreisch4750
I'm so sorry. This song makes me cry too. I miscarried my first baby, in July of 2004. After I eloped with my husband in June of the same year. It's always been meaningful for me.
@rotterdammer5243
I`m sorry for your loss, I could`nt imagine.......But, count yourself lucky, You got to share a love which I have never experienced. I will die alone. Y`kow it`s"Better to of loved and loss than ever loved at all"...........
@layneannen
I know that pain also, songs can trigger emotions for sure. I am so deeply sorry for your loss!!
@lowellirish
You are loved...❤
@reginaldoassuncao9485
April, come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
May, she will stay
Resting in my arms again
June, she'll change her tune
In restless walks she'll prowl the night
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight
August, die she must
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold
September, I'll remember
A love once new has now grown old
@meghandevito2205
Thank you
@PInk77W1
Thx
@jenniferloewenstein3538
This is one of the most wistful, beautiful songs they wrote… definitely underrated