Autumn
Strawbs Lyrics


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I - Heroine's Theme
Hawken

(Instrumental)

II - Deep Summer's Sleep
Cousins
I sense autumn coming on
The mist has hung low all day
Small birds gather on the wing
Preparing to make their way.

The trees begin to show a trace of brown among the green
Bringing back the memories that only you and I have seen.

I sense autumn coming on
The sun sinking red and deep
The fires burning in the fields
As late summer falls asleep.

The leaves begin to scatter as the North wind calls their name
Folding gently back into the silent earth from which they came.

III - The Winter Long
Cousins

Still waters flow
Sea breezes blow
Wild flowers grow
Abundant at your feet.

Soft falling snow
Warm candle glow
Flushed faces show
The pleasures when we meet.

Hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
The winter long I will always be with you
Hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
The winter long I will always be with you.

Hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
I will be the one who will always see you through




Hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
I will be the one who will always see you through.

Overall Meaning

The song "Autumn" by Strawbs beautifully captures the essence of transition from summer to fall. The first section, "Heroine's Theme", features an instrumental melody that sets the mood and prepares for the upcoming lyrics. The second section, "Deep Summer's Sleep", is rich in imagery and describes the signs of autumn's arrival. The misty weather, the small birds gathering to fly away, and the trees showing a hint of brown color, all symbolize the changing of seasons. The verse "bringing back the memories that only you and I have seen" adds a touch of nostalgia and indicates that the natural world reminds the singer of someone special. The chorus emphasizes the beautiful and melancholic atmosphere of the song: "I sense autumn coming on, the sun sinking red and deep, the fires burning in the fields as late summer falls asleep." The final verse describes the leaves falling from the trees as a result of the North wind calling their names, returning them to the earth from which they arose.


The last section, "The Winter Long", follows the themes of holding on and staying strong. The first verse describes the peaceful natural scenery of still waters, sea breezes, and wildflowers, and contrasts it with the warm and intimate feel of a candlelit room. The second verse declares the singer's intention to be there for their loved one throughout the winter, with the verse "Hold on to me, I'll hold on to you, I will be the one who will always see you through" repeated twice, emphasizing the message.


Overall, the song "Autumn" is an evocative and touching tribute to the changing seasons and the feelings of love, companionship, and support that come with it.


Line by Line Meaning

I sense autumn coming on
I have a feeling that autumn is approaching


The mist has hung low all day
The fog has been present throughout the day


Small birds gather on the wing
Tiny birds are assembling in preparation for their journey


Preparing to make their way
Getting ready to start their migration


The trees begin to show a trace of brown among the green
The leaves on the trees are beginning to turn brown, contrasting with the remaining green ones


Bringing back the memories that only you and I have seen
The changing trees trigger memories that only the singer and another person share


The sun sinking red and deep
The sun is setting, turning a deep red color


The fires burning in the fields
Fires are burning in the fields


As late summer falls asleep
Late summer is ending


The leaves begin to scatter as the North wind calls their name
The leaves start to fall and are taken by the wind as it blows from the North


Folding gently back into the silent earth from which they came
The fallen leaves are returning to the ground, where they originated


Still waters flow
The water is calm and still


Sea breezes blow
Breezes are coming from the sea


Wild flowers grow
Wildflowers are blooming


Abundant at your feet
They are in abundance at your feet


Soft falling snow
Delicate snow is falling


Warm candle glow
The warm glow of candles


Flushed faces show
The blushed faces indicate pleasure


The pleasures when we meet
The joys experienced when we meet


Hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
Let's support each other


The winter long I will always be with you
I will always be there for you throughout the winter


I will be the one who will always see you through
I will always help you get through difficult times




Contributed by Vivian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@progger53

This gives me chills. Their songs have majestic passages with a sweet voice. Btw, I love the melloton.😍

@dr.jamesolack8504

‘Mellotron’. It has the most ethereal sound of any instrument…..imho.

@61guitbox

all those great prog bands that came out of the United Kingdom ; Genesis , ELP , Yes , Pink Floyd , Gentle Giant , King Crimson , Jethro Tull just to name a few and of course Strawbs ! so glad i grew up during this incredible era in time to enjoy all the great music .. it’s still my fav genre in music...long live 70’s Prog Rock !! Peace ☮️✌️

@stephenlisson1994

Camel and Renaissance have to be thrown in there too, mate.

@montygreen6228

I totally agree

@55victorf

Me too i like prog rock and some of these bands , greetings from Lisbon

@jmurm2722

me too!
+ 70's italian rock, german rock, french rock. . . .
from s.korea

@roybean7166

And me, from south Africa. Love all the old music, from my youth. And have a lot of them on vinyl.

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@tonilittle2516

I had forgotten just how absolutely beautiful this song really was ..........stirs up the deepest emotions in my soul ..........

@freakyold

Sometimes I think I'm lucky to be old. I got to experience all this great progressive rock like Straubs, Pink Floyd, and King Crimson when it was new and fresh and thrilling. Now this new technology in my latter years has brought it all back to me. Fall is my favorite season and I've lived through many autumns and been in love for some of them. Still, I've never heard a better soundtrack for this gorgeous time of year than this song!

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