Autumn Almanac
The Kinks Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack
It's all part of my autumn almanac
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-colored yellow
So I sweep them in my sack
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac

Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun
Because the summer's all gone

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac

I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight

This is my street, and I'm never gonna leave it
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away
Because it's calling me (come on home)
Hear it calling me (come on home)

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn Armagnac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom (whoa!)





Yes, yes

Overall Meaning

, yes, it's my autumn almanac is a celebration of autumn and the singer's love for his hometown, his daily routine, and his community. The beginning of the song provides a vivid description of autumn, with dew still on the hedges and leaves changing colors. The singer takes part in this natural transformation, sweeping the musty-colored yellow leaves into his sack.


The second verse describes how people in the town come together on Friday evenings, seeking comfort from the cold weather. They enjoy tea and toasted, buttered currant buns, but still miss the sun from the summertime. The following lines reveal the singer's simple pleasures in life, such as enjoying football, eating roast beef on Sundays, and going to Blackpool for holidays. He loves his street, where he feels a sense of belonging and connection to his community.


Line by Line Meaning

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
The fall season is here as shown by the presence of dew and crawling caterpillars in the early morning.


When the dawn begins to crack
As the sun rises and light starts to peek out.


It's all part of my autumn almanac
All of these little signs remind me of the season, and feel familiar.


Breeze blows leaves of a musty-colored yellow
The wind is starting to pick up and is causing the yellow leaves to rustle.


So I sweep them in my sack
Picking up these leaves is something people do to keep their surroundings clean.


Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
All of these fall elements together confirm the arrival of the fall season.


Friday evenings, people get together
As the colder days come in people start to socialize to escape the weather.


Hiding from the weather
The lack of warmth and sunshine makes people depend on each other to keep spirits up.


Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
These festive foods are a traditional snack taken during fall gatherings.


Can't compensate for lack of sun
As the sun sets earlier and the days get shorter, the dark and cold become overwhelming, and a warm refreshment may not be enough to cure that.


Because the summer's all gone
The theme of the song is the transition from summer to fall.


La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
A restatement of the theme.


Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Autumn increases the pain in his back, maybe due to the tension of the season.


Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
The repetition of the title emphasizes the theme that's running through the song.


I go to Blackpool for my holidays
A reference to a British sandy beach.


Sit in the open sunlight
Ruing the loss of consistent sunshine throughout the year.


This is my street, and I'm never gonna leave it
He is content with his surroundings and doesn't want to change it.


If I live to be ninety-nine
He will stay in his neighborhood forever.


'Cause all the people I meet
His neighbors and other locals never leave either.


Seem to come from my street
Everyone around here feel familiar and close.


And I can't get away
No matter where he wanders, this place is always home.


Because it's calling me (come on home)
He feels an inexplicable attraction to this small corner of the world.


Oh, my autumn Armagnac
A reference to an alcoholic beverage.


Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
The repeating of the refrain is reassuring of the feelings of comfort and belonging which come with the season.


Bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom (whoa!)
A random, celebratory interjection.




Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Maysoun A.

Lyrics :

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack, it's all part of my autumn almanac
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-colored yellow
So I sweep them in my sack, yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac

Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather, tea and toasted
Buttered currant buns, can't compensate
For lack of sun because the summer's all gone

La la la la, oh my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac

I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight

This is my street and I'm never gonna to leave it
And I'm always gonna to stay here if I live to be ninety-nine
'Cause all the people I meet, seem to come from my street
And I can't get away because it's calling me, come on home
Hear it calling me, come on home

La la la la, oh my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Bop bop bop bop bop, whoa
Bop bop bop bop bop, whoa



Dennis Wood

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack
It's all part of my autumn almanac

Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow
So I sweep them in my sack
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac

Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun
Because the summer's all gone

La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac

I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight

This is my street and I'm never gonna leave it
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away
Because it's calling me (Come on home)
Hear it calling me (Come on home)

La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!

Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!

Source:ย Musixmatch



Patrick Stocks

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar ๐Ÿ›
When the Dawn begins to crack
Itโ€™s all part of my autumn almanac

Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow
So I sweep them in my sack
Yes, yes, yes ๐Ÿ™Œ itโ€™s my autumn almanac

Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather
Tea & toasted, buttered currant buns
Canโ€™t compensate for lack of sun ๐ŸŒž
Because the summers all gone

La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes ๐Ÿ™Œ itโ€™s my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes ๐Ÿ™Œ itโ€™s my autumn almanac

I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight

This is my street and Iโ€™m never gonna leave it
And Iโ€™m always gonna to stay here
If I live to be 99
โ€˜Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I canโ€™t get away ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ
Because itโ€™s calling me (come on home ๐Ÿก)

La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes ๐Ÿ™Œ itโ€™s my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes ๐Ÿ™Œ

Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!

Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!



Voodu Huber

0:01 From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack
It's all part of my autumn almanac




Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow
So I sweep them in my sack
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac




Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun
Because the summer's all gone




La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac




I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight




This is my street and I'm never gonna leave it
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away
Because it's calling me (Come on home)
Hear it calling me (Come on home)




La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes




Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!




Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!


Songwriter: Ray Davies



ScoriacTears

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar,
When the dawn begins to crack.
It's all part of my autumn almanac.
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow,
So I sweep them in my sack.
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
Friday evenings, people get together,
Hiding from the weather.
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun,
Because the summer's all gone.
Laa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laa-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
La-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
I like my football on a Saturday,
Roast beef on Sundays, all right.
I go to Blackpool for my holidays,
Sit in the open sunlight.
This is my street, and I'm never gonna leave it,
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine,
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away,
Because it's calling me, (come on home)
Hear it calling me, (come on home)
Laa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laa-la
Oh, my autumn Armagnac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
Laa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laa-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!



All comments from YouTube:

Andrew Johnstone

The influence of Victorian and Edwardian music hall on the 60s is unfathomable
In the hands of The Kinks they turn melancholy into beauty
Genius and pathos of the most delicate of touches โคโคโค

Jam

The most British record ever produced. The kinks are a British Institution and I will forever love and cherish them. There will never be another Ray Davies.
This band told my life story through song years before my birth!

Billy the dog -

This is one of the most sophisticated pop songs l know. Most charting songs have just 3 or 4 chords whilst this has over 20. It goes through a number of interesting changes and, though it seems to return back to its starting point, in fact it finishes in a different key. Overall, l think it's a masterpiece, as are many of Ray Davies songs of this era.

Thomas McGorry

It is so joyous, a never-ending tapestry of brilliance. I love the ending.

fractuss

Astute observation.

bangers n mash

I'm learning this now, a great song to learn. I love it

total stranger

Both the Davies brothers are life-long Arsenal Football Club fans. I've recently listened to the newest Arsenal anthem, @GunnersDaily, which had been extracted from Louis Dunford's "The Angel" (link with lyrics) https://youtu.be/wjCJv4W4kvw.

Can you imagine if the choral parts of "Autumn Almanac" became Arsenal's anthem, instead? Can you imagine different tiers of the crowd singing different parts - just like the record - and ending with that final, affirmative, ascending "Yes!, yes!, yes!, yes!, yes!, yes!, yes!, YES!" - in unison? I can.


Both Ray and Dave were born about 3ยฝ miles from the original Arsenal stadium at Highbury, and their father, Fred, took them to matches "on a Saturday".

John P

i dont think Ray even realised what he had at his fingertips , you could write a thesis based on this one song , the song structure and the cultural relevance

1 More Replies...

Marvin B Naylor

It's so brilliant, only Ray Davies could have written it and only The Kinks could have recorded it.

Dylan Jan Pierre

Que genio R. Davis para componer una canciรณn tan compleja, completa y con acordes y cambios tan geniales
Para mi the kinks es de las mejores bandas de inglaterra y del rock
De los 60s

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