Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: power-pop
Song Meaning of “Autumn’s Birds” by Cotton Mather
“Autumn’s Birds” by Cotton Mather is a bittersweet folk-rock melody steeped in nostalgia and melancholy. The lyrics tell the story of a man looking back on his time of youthful happiness and innocence with the birds of autumn, but now standing in his advanced age, alone and forsaken.
The narrator reveals his memories of youthful joy and innocence in the chorus: “Oh, Autumn’s birds will carry your song away, oh, I miss the days when you laughed and the way you loved the clouds in the sky.” Here, the narrator reflects fondly on the days of yore when he shared his love for the beauty of nature with a companion who he misses deeply.
The narrator further muses on his loneliness in the song’s verses. He bemoans the fact that he is now “all by myself” and questions if his former companion ever thinks about him. His sorrow is deeply felt and while he knows they will never be together again, he wishes for his former companion to remember the beauty of the birds of autumn that they used to share.
The song ultimately speaks to the universal feeling of loneliness and longing that can result from the passing of time. It’s a reminder to cherish the joy and companionship that fills our fleeting lifetime, for when it’s gone, it may never return.