Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves, or “Les feuilles mortes” in French was originally composed by Joseph Kosma with lyrics by Jacques Prévert in 1945. The song begins with the iconic opening lines: “The falling leaves drift by the window, the autumn leaves of red and gold.” The song’s lyrics are a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the beauty of the changing seasons. They speak of memories that come and go, like the falling leaves of autumn. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of “But I miss you most of all, my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall,” is both heart-wrenching and evocative.

The first recorded version of “Autumn Leaves” was in French by the legendary French singer Yves Montand. His rendition of the song, released in 1946, quickly became a hit in France and helped to popularize the song in other parts of the world.
In the 1950s, the song was introduced to English-speaking audiences through the efforts of the jazz musician Johnny Mercer, who wrote a set of English lyrics for the song. Mercer’s version, titled “Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes),” became a hit in 1955 when it was recorded by the American jazz singer Jo Stafford.

The song has been translated into numerous languages and has been covered by artists from all over the world. Some of the most notable cover versions of the song include those by Nat King Cole, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Eva Cassidy, Barbra Streisand, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan.

Nat King Cole’s version of the song, recorded in 1955, is one of the most famous and is often cited as one of the greatest recordings of all time. Eva Cassidy, an American singer who gained posthumous fame after her death in 1996, recorded a version of the song that is haunting and ethereal, with a delicate and fragile quality that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Her cover version has become a fan favorite, and has introduced the song to a new generation of listeners.