Autumn leaves under frozen souls,
Hungry hands turning soft and old.
My hero cried as we stood out there in the cold,
Like these autumn leaves I don't have nothing to hold.

Handsome smile, wearing handsome shoes,
Too young to say though I swear he knew.
I hear him singing while he sits there in his chair,
While these autumn leaves float around everywhere.

I look at you and I see me, making noise so restlessly,
But now it's quiet and I can hear you saying,
My little fish don't cry, my little fish don't cry.

Autumn leaves have faded now
That smile I lost well I've found somehow,
Cause you still live on in my father's eyes.

These autumn leaves, oh these autumn leaves,
Oh these autumn leaves are yours tonight.


Lyrics submitted by Jaffaholic

Autumn Lyrics as written by Paolo Giovanni Nutini Jim Duguid

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Autumn song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    An incredible song about the death of his grandfather. A song that still can't seam to get past me without a tear

    vol731on April 07, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Beautiful song. Autumn is my favorite time of the year but the season is very deep. This song is about his grandfather like it has already been mentioned. Very eloquent song. Paolo is one of my favorite singers of all time. Truly amazing. I can't wait to hear this song live on Monday night in Pittsburgh!

    kristaseleneon October 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is exquisite. and I must agree with the above definitions.

    ms.cellophaneon August 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah same as the general flow of comments so far, this song is amazing, each time i listen to it i notice something i didnt before..its such an emotional song and i love it!

    homesickblueson January 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is bittersweet and beautiful. I sensed immediately it's about his grandfather (you still live on in my father's eyes), but it makes me think maybe he had some type of dementia or Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's can strike surprisingly "young" and sufferers will sometimes sit in the same spot for hours talking to themselves, saying things make no sense over and over ( i can hear you saying, My little fish don't cry, my little fish don't cry.) It always makes me cry because I am witnessing firsthand my father-in-law go through the advanced stages. It's a sweet song. Just touching.

    Grlwsmlson April 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've been loving this song since the first time I heard it in 2006. It's so emotional and sad...

    sanasyon June 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I wasn't sure if it was his mother that the song was about as I really don't know much about the artist, but I can see if it was his grandfather, assuming he lost him some time ago. The reference to autumn leaves can be interpreted as memories, and how they fade over time. The part about him sitting at his chair with all these memories floating through his mind. And although his own memories start to fade his fathers memories of the person are still very strong. Amazing portrayal of loss from such a young artist.

    Frivoon June 17, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is so beautiful. It makes me think of my mother's father who I never met. He died of cancer a few months after she married my dad. She always tells me how the fall is a hard time for her because she could really see the progression of her father's cancer. He got sicker and sicker, as the leaves changed colors and fell. Always brings tears to my eyes.

    BettyHolly1950on January 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think the fact its "Autumn" just refers to the time of year his grandfather passed. "My hero cried" refers to watching his own father cry at the funeral.

    I don't understand the Alzhiemers reference about not making sense saying " my little fish don't cry" as i feel it is a term of endearment he called his grandson. Long before this song i use to call my daughter (who is know 15yrs) My little fish from the day she had her first swimming lesson and it stuck with her till her teens.

    Losing his Smile at the saddness of his loss but getting it back as time passes and also " his face in his fathers eyes " some times as much as we hate to admit, as we get older we become more like our parents. Maybe his father changed at such a loss and became more like his grandfather and therefore young paolo could see the similarities giving him his smile back.

    However we try and break this song down only the artist himself knows the true meaning but let us enjoy it as just a beautiful song. I had the pleasure of watching him perform it live back in 2005 at an a tiny gig in edinburgh BEAUTIFUL

    D3VIOUSon December 07, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The term "autumn leaves" has meaning on many different levels. The term can also refer to old people in general, and his grandfather in particular, who -- like fading, fragile leaves dangling from a tree's bough in the autumn -- finally just fall away to the earth. It's a wonderful song, and I love Susan Boyle's rendition of it.

    eperonon February 10, 2014   Link

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