As The Leaves Change, So Does Our Music
Fall, the season has officially changed. Summer has ended, so put away those swimsuits and huddle up near a warm fire. We all know that when fall comes, we like to resonate with certain songs that describe how it feels—how safe we feel, how beautiful the world looks as the leaves fall, just like the temperature. What are the best commonly used songs for how we view our cozy fall?
Lover, You Should’ve Come Over by Jeff Buckley, the song evokes a sense of melancholy, regret, and longing. The fall season often symbolizes things coming to an end. The song mourns the loss of a love as it is ending. Trapped in a cycle of loss and regret, "It's never over," he often repeats this sentence as his eternal grief becomes a permanent scar. He explores the themes of love, loss, and regret as he reflects on a love he wishes he hadn’t lost. The beauty inside the tragic circumstances of losing something/someone precious to his heart.
Sweater Weather by The Neighborhood: The lyrics of this song describe not only the physical act of sharing a sweater, but also how it creates a warm, cozy setting between two people and how they use this sweater as an escape from the real world. The band uses the metaphor of sharing a sweater to further describe the sense of protection found in a loved one. "One love, two mouths; No shirt, no blouse" references the physical intimacy and connection between the two people. Another lyric, "My left hand meets your waist,” describes the passionate physical encounters and sensations. The deep connection that overlaps the lives of two people.
We Fell In Love In October by Girl In Red uses the season of autumn to express the warmth and beauty she feels for her significant other. The joy and nostalgia that fall brings, "You look so pretty and I love this view," she’s such a beautiful sight, the same as when the leaves fall. As nature evolves, so does the relationship between them. A constant reminder of when their love story had begun, "My girl, my girl, my girl, You will be my world," she becomes her universe, her reason for existence. The beauty of autumn mirrors their connection as their love grows.
Linger by The Cranberries expresses, through its music, the failure of a teen relationship. The loss, deceit, and betrayal that linger afterwards. The painful gut-wrenching emotions that come with confusion and the lingering pain of uncommitted love. The innocence of being in love with someone who no longer loves you back, "But I was wrong, I was wrong,” the desire for the other person to be more honest, truthful. Even if it meant the end of their relationship, she just craves honesty. The sense of betrayal as she learns that they do not feel the same way.
Come, by Adrianne Lenker, interprets the loss of a mother. How peaceful and nature-fused her death has become due to the help of her daughter. The mother begs for support on her deathbed, as she faces the last few moments of her life. Despite the morbid subject, the song expresses not sadness and fear but serenity and acceptance. Most lyrics sound like pleas, "Take my life into your life,” she wants her daughter to remember her in her legacy and in her memory. Just as fallen leaves decompose and nourish the soil, her final journey also comes to an end.
Bewitched, by Laufey, evokes the feeling of falling in love. A love that feels cozy, nostalgic, but comes with the loss of control as she falls for someone. How dizzying and intoxicating the control this love has over her. How disorienting, an all-consuming experience of falling in love can feel, "this all-consuming fire fuming,” how the love is so strong, it's like a fire that she can't escape. The song almost feels like a lullaby playing over the end credits of a rom-com.
Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey: the transition from summer to fall as a metaphor for the inevitable end of a relationship. The feelings of loss and love as she refuses to be alone after the death of a loved one. She uses imagery of things coming to an end —the finality of death —which resonates with the season's feeling of decay and change. The song's title conveys the loss and sadness she faced, and how the end of summer marks the end of their relationship.
Every year, fall brings a range of emotions, and we often like to listen to songs that express how we feel. As the leaves fall, so do our emotions. We often express our emotions through our music. These songs are often the most popularly used during this season; there's a strong chance you’ve heard at least one of these songs.
