Britain is no country for old men: Britain is a country where old men celebrate Autumn with Edith, Eric, Nat, Andrea, Doris, Eva, Cannonball, Miles, Tom, Chet + 'Autumn Leaves'

Monday, 1 November 2010

Britain is a country where old men celebrate Autumn with Edith, Eric, Nat, Andrea, Doris, Eva, Cannonball, Miles, Tom, Chet + 'Autumn Leaves'

These are the autumn colours of the acers and sweet chestnuts at the back of our garden and the oak at the front.

For all this beauty we have to thank 'carotenoids' and 'xanthophylls' for the the orange or yellow pigments, 'anthocyanin' for the pink, red or purple and 'tannin' for the brown pigment. The main reason for the colour change is shortened day length, however, I think that there have been other climatic factors at work to explain this Autumn's spectacular beauty, apparently, the best for 80 years.

It was in 1947, the year I was born, that Johnny Mercer adapted the French song 'Les Feuilles Mortes' (The Dead Leaves) and in 1950, Edith Piaf produced the both French and English versions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2s2tPORlW4&feature=related

The falling leaves drift by the window,
The autumn 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 ol' 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 ol' winter's song.
But I miss you most of all my darling,
When autumn leaves start to fall.

Eric Clapton has produced a recent version where over a hushed instrumental backing sings in a tender baritone, full of heartache and regret and plays two guitar solos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxIcxkQhVhs&feature=related

The 1956 film 'Autumn Leaves' which starred Joan Crawford featured the song by
Nat King Cole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IDUxk9sSXI

This morning when we walked though our local woods and into a valley, I had the song in my head.