Anyone remember when this time of the year was actually the beginning of the year?

[Numo]

I always hated September when I was a kid, and it's still a little depressing now. It was a melancholy time of year as I adjusted to cooler temps and having to give up my summer freedoms.

As the words to a popular song at the time went, "All the leaves have died, and the sky is grey . . ."

[SteveG]

The song you are thinking of is a Winter song, not a Fall song.


"California Dreamin'"
All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray.
I've been for a walk on a winter's day.
I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A.;
California dreamin' on such a winter's day.

Stopped in to a church I passed along the way.
Well I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray.
You know the preacher liked the cold;
He knows I'm gonna stay.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day.

All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray.
I've been for a walk on a winter's day.
If I didn't tell her I could leave today;
California dreamin' on such a winter's day.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day.

However, if you want a truly depressing Fall song, try Autumn Leaves
Here's Nat King Cole singing the English version on YouTube=> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEMCeymW1Ow

First a translation of the original French by Jacques Prévert, then the much nicer English lyrics by Johnny Mercer

French Lyrics by poet Jacques Prévert
Oh ! je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes
Des jours heureux où nous étions amis.
En ce temps-là la vie était plus belle,
Et le soleil plus brûlant qu'aujourd'hui.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle.
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié...
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi
Et le vent du nord les emporte
Dans la nuit froide de l'oubli.
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié
La chanson que tu me chantais.

[Refrain:]
C'est une chanson qui nous ressemble.
Toi, tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Et nous vivions tous deux ensemble,
Toi qui m'aimais, moi qui t'aimais.
Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s'aiment,
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable
Les pas des amants désunis.

Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi
Mais mon amour silencieux et fidèle
Sourit toujours et remercie la vie.
Je t'aimais tant, tu étais si jolie.
Comment veux-tu que je t'oublie ?
En ce temps-là, la vie était plus belle
Et le soleil plus brûlant qu'aujourd'hui.
Tu étais ma plus douce amie
Mais je n'ai que faire des regrets
Et la chanson que tu chantais,
Toujours, toujours je l'entendrai !
[Refrain]


English Translation
Oh! I would like as much as you remember
The happy days where we were friends.
In this time the life was more beautiful,
And the sun more burning than today.
The dead leaves collected with the shovel.
You see, I did not forget...
The dead leaves collected with the shovel,
The memories and the regrets also
And the wind of North carries them
In the cold night of the lapse of memory.
You see, I did not forget
The song that you sang me.

[ Refrain: ]
This is a song which resembles to us.
You, you loved me and I loved you
And we lived both together,
You who loved me, me who loved you.
But the life separate those which love themselves,
All softly, without making noise
And the sea erases on the sand
The Steps of divided lovers.

The dead leaves collected with the shovel,
The memories and the regrets also
But my quiet and faithful love
Smiles always and thanks the life
I loved you so much, you was so pretty.
Why do you want that I forget you ?
In this time, the life was more beautiful
And the sun more burning than today.
You were my softer friend
But I don't have only to make regrets
And the song than you sang,
Always, always I will hear it !
[ Refrain: ]


English Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
The falling leaves drift by my window
The falling leaves of red and gold
I see your lips the summer kisses
The sunburned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall.

[Numo]

Thanks, Steve. I feel much better now.

[Charlie M.]

What a sad song.

Doesn't the Civil War re-enactment season start soon?


English Translation
Oh! I would like as much as you remember
The happy days where we were friends.
In this time the life was more beautiful,
And the sun more burning than today.
The dead leaves collected with the shovel.
You see, I did not forget...
The dead leaves collected with the shovel,
The memories and the regrets also
And the wind of North carries them
In the cold night of the lapse of memory.
You see, I did not forget
The song that you sang me.

[ Refrain: ]
This is a song which resembles to us.
You, you loved me and I loved you
And we lived both together,
You who loved me, me who loved you.
But the life separate those which love themselves,
All softly, without making noise
And the sea erases on the sand
The Steps of divided lovers.

The dead leaves collected with the shovel,
The memories and the regrets also
But my quiet and faithful love
Smiles always and thanks the life
I loved you so much, you was so pretty.
Why do you want that I forget you ?
In this time, the life was more beautiful
And the sun more burning than today.
You were my softer friend
But I don't have only to make regrets
And the song than you sang,
Always, always I will hear it !
[ Refrain: ]

[Paul F.]

I still miss saturday morning cartoons and saturday afternoon monster movies!

[mrlynn]

Many years ago I once started a poem with the line,

"September was the real New Year for me. . ."

Never wrote a second line. That just summed it up. Never could see starting a New Year in the middle of Winter.

September was when you had to go up the driveway and stand in the chill morning air, waiting for the school bus. Summer, and the Old Year, were over.

/Mr Lynn

[N-OS X-tasy!]

pdq wrote:
Yeah, geez, I remember way back when I knew about (and breathlessly awaited) every new TV series each fall (or at least the cool ones, like Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, etc).

Not to mention the annual New Fall Season issue of TV Guide.

[Zoidberg]

N-OS X-tasy! wrote:
[quote=pdq]
Yeah, geez, I remember way back when I knew about (and breathlessly awaited) every new TV series each fall (or at least the cool ones, like Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, etc).

Not to mention the annual New Fall Season issue of TV Guide.
Was wondering if someone else was going to mention this.

Oh look -- there's a new show about a cop and an android this year; "Holmes and Yoyo". Hmmm.

[decay]

Remember when TV stations would sign off at 1-2 AM? No paid infomercials all night or 24 hour news channels.

And when did the Sears Wish Book come out?

[eustacetilley]

decay wrote:
Remember when TV stations would sign off at 1-2 AM? No paid infomercials all night or 24 hour news channels.
...

But there was some significant content:





Much fiddling was done in the wee hours of the morning.
And then things got colorful:





Eventually, cameras pointed at cards went away, and all-electronic solutions were found:





But to really screw things up, you need a computer:


Eustace