Autumn Leaves
Stan Getz Quintet Lyrics

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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 of the song Autumn Leaves, performed by iconic jazz saxophonist Stan Getz, is a poignant ode to a lost love, set against the backdrop of the autumn season. The opening lines, "The falling leaves drift by the window, the autumn leaves of red and gold," immediately set the seasonal tone and evoke the wistful mood of the song. The singer recalls the memories of the summer kisses and sun-burned hands of his lover, who has since gone away, leaving him with the long days of autumn and the impending winter to come.

As the song moves into the second verse, the lyrics shift to French, with the lines "C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble, toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais," which means "This is a song that is like us, you loved me, and I loved you." The French verse continues to depict the couple's life together, but then poignantly transitions into the theme of separation, "Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment, tout doucement sans faire de bruit," which translates to "But life separates those who love each other, slowly and without noise." The final line of the French verse, "Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis," meaning "And the sea erases on the sand the footsteps of separated lovers," creates a powerful image of the impermanence of love and the passage of time.

Overall, the lyrics of Autumn Leaves convey a sense of loss and the fleeting nature of love, underscored by the melancholic melody and the hauntingly beautiful saxophone solos that characterize the song.

Line by Line Meaning

The falling leaves drift by the window
The leaves of autumn are drifting by the window.

The autumn leaves of red and gold
The leaves of autumn are painted with shades of red and gold.

I see your lips, the summer kisses
The recollection of your lips, and the memories of our romantic summer kisses, come to mind.

The sun-burned hands I used to hold
The hands that have been under the sun that I used to hold tight.

Since you went away the days grow long
The days seem as though they are becoming longer without you by my side.

And soon I'll hear old winter's song
I am aware that winter is coming soon, and it will bring along a painful experience.

But I miss you most of all my darling
Of all I am most inflicted by your absence, my dear beloved.

When autumn leaves start to fall
It hurts the most when the leaves of autumn start falling, and I am reminded of your departure.

C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This is a song that represents us.

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

Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We both lived together in each other's worlds.

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

Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
But life has a way of separating those who love each other.

Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
It happens slowly and silently.

Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
The sea slowly and smoothly wipes away the footprints of the parted lovers on the sand.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jacques Prevert, Johnny Mercer, Joseph Kosma

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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