☝️ Key Points
- The song is a portrayal of feelings of loss and longing caused by the absence of a loved one
- Falling autumn leaves are used as a metaphor for the passage of time and the end of a relationship
- The singer expresses their longing and regret through memories of the time spent with the loved one
- The song reflects a deep melancholy and loneliness that the singer feels in the absence of their loved one
- Especially in autumn, when the leaves fall, the singer's longing and pain increase as it reminds them of the end of their relationship
Interpretation
The song 'Autumn Leaves' by
Frank Sinatra is a melancholic song that describes the feelings of loss and longing in the absence of a loved one.
In the song lyrics, the falling autumn leaves are used as a metaphor for the changing of time and the end of a relationship. 'The falling leaves / Drift by the window / The autumn leaves / Of red and gold' describes how time passes, symbolized by the falling of the autumn leaves and the changing of seasons.
The singer reminisces about the past times spent with their loved one - 'I see your lips / The summer kisses / The sunburned hands / I used to hold'. This shows their longing and regret that those times are over.
The song also expresses a deep melancholy and loneliness that the singer feels in the absence of their loved one. 'Since you went away / The days grow long / And soon I'll hear / Old winter's song' symbolizes the feeling of emptiness and sadness that the singer feels since their loved one is gone.
The chorus 'But I miss you most of all / My darling / When autumn leaves / Start to fall' emphasizes the deep longing and pain of the singer, especially when the autumn leaves fall and remind them of the fleetingness of time and the end of their relationship.