Their collaboration with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller gave them a unique sound that was very humorous most of the time. Their first huge hit came with "Young Blood" and "Searchin'." They also had success with hits such as "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Little Egypt."
Gardner was still touring with The Coasters as late as 2005, although he is the only surviving original member. Gardner is now semi-retired and has handed the reins over to his son Carl Jr.
In 1987, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, thus becoming the first group to be inducted (the other inductees at the time were solo acts). In 2000, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame. In 2004, "Young Blood" was #414 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Young Blood" and "Yakety Yak" were part of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. The band's song "Down In Mexico" appears on the new film, Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof.
Autumn Leaves
The Coasters Lyrics
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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
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
The Coasters’ Autumn Leaves is a classic song that takes us through a sadness-filled reminiscence of lost love. The song starts off with the imagery of the falling leaves drifting by the window – a symbol of the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The autumn leaves of red and gold remind the singer of the summer kisses they shared with their beloved; the lips that they used to kiss and the sun-burned hands they would hold.
The lyrics of the song talk about how the days have grown long since the person they loved went away. Soon, they will hear old winter’s song, and the chillingly quiet loneliness will sink in. However, it is only when the autumn leaves start falling that the singer misses their darling the most. Every leaf that falls is a testament to the fleeting nature of time and how the love they shared has come to an end.
The French verse towards the end of the song talks about how the song speaks of two lovers who were once together, but life has separated them – slowly and quietly. The sea washes away the footprints of these separated lovers, who once walked hand in hand on the sandy beach.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling leaves drift by the window
The leaves that fall from the trees are softly floating past the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
During autumn, the leaves change their colors to a magnificent combination of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
I remember the moments we shared, the kisses we exchanged during the summer
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I miss holding your hands that were sun-kissed from spending time outdoor during the summer days
Since you went away the days grow long
The days feel never-ending and are filled with sadness since you left me
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
The next season, winter, will soon arrive and bring its own kind of melancholic tunes
But I miss you most of all my darling
Out of everything I miss about you, my love, I miss you the most
When autumn leaves start to fall
I feel the loss of you most acutely when the leaves begin to fall during autumn
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This is a song that reflects who we are
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We were living our lives 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 has a way of separating those who love each other
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Quietly, without us realizing it
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
And the ocean washes away the footsteps of the separated lovers on the sand
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GIORGIO CANALI, FRANCESCO MAGNELLI, GIANNI MAROCCOLO, MASSIMO ZAMBONI, GIOVANNI LINDO FERRETTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind