Changing Of The Seasons: Top 10 Songs With An Autumnal Feel

By Seb Gorlov

As we move through the year, the autumnal feel becomes more apparent. Leaves appear on the ground, the temperature gets slightly more crisp and pumpkin spice lattes are all the rage at Starbucks.

There are plenty of fantastic songs that perfectly emulate the feel of autumn or directly mention the season, and this list is a comprehensive top ten of songs everyone should listen to as the time of year comes back around again.

 

10) Sweater Weather – The Neighbourhood (I Love You)

Californian band The Neighbourhood are famous for their brand of indie rock music, which has captured the hearts of many Gen-Z listeners. “Sweater Weather” might just be their magnum opus.

Blending introspective lyricism with themes of love, vocalist Jesse Rutherford is a powerhouse, his sultry and smooth tone backed by the acoustics from guitarists Michael Margott, Jeremiah Freedman and Zachary Abels and the catchy drum beats of Brandon Fried.

“Cause it’s too cold for you here/ And now, so let me hold/ Both your hands in the holes of my sweater” (“Sweater Weather”, The Neighbourhood, I Love You).

The creative video for the track was shot in greyscale, adding to the overall aesthetic. It was created by long term collaborator Zack Sekuler, who also worked on the video for “Afraid”. He has an impressive CV, also having worked with Kesha. Sekuler was joined by Daniel Iglesias Jr, a Californian filmmaker who has worked with X Ambassadors, Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion.

The record is extremely popular. It has gone 16 times platinum in America, 10 times platinum in Australia, diamond in Greece and Canada and seven times diamond in Brazil, in terms of overall sales. It also reached 34th on the Billboard Global 200 Chart in 2025 and 4th on the US Rock Airplay Chart in 2013, the first year of its release.

 

9) “we fell in love in october” – girl in red (we fell in love in october/ October Passed Me By)

This heartfelt love song embodies the joys of an autumnal romance so much that it is even celebrated over social media, with the first day of October seeing users on TikTok posting tributes to their girlfriends. Thanks to the repetitive lyricism in the chorus, this is now celebrated worldwide.

“You will be my girl, my girl, my girl/ You will be my world, my world, my world”

(“we fell in love in october”, girl in red, we fell in love in October/October Passed Me By)

“Thanks to the catchiness and simplicity of these lyrics, this chorus makes the TikTok sound perfect for posting your girlfriend. So people either post lovely tributes to their girlfriends on Oct. 1, or you have people making videos about how much they’d love to be on the receiving end of these posts” (Vargas, Parade, 06/04/26)

The track – which is perfectly juxtaposed by the following song on the record “October Passed Me By” – is one of the most popular works that girl in red has created. The Norwegian pop star, whose real name is Marie Ulven, has been praised for her open and honest approach to being part of the LGBTQ+ community, mental health and love in her songwriting.

“After Ulven uploaded “i wanna be your girlfriend” to the internet in 2018, she developed a loyal following who were drawn to her honesty about queerness, depression, and anxiety. If these topics were once seen as taboo, Ulven approached them as unexceptional.” (Moreland, Pitchfork, 06/05/21).

 

(8) “Silver Springs – Fleetwood Mac (Rumours Super Deluxe Version)

Fleetwood Mac have built a reputation for being one of the greatest rock bands of all time, with hits including “Little Lies”, “Dreams” and “Everywhere”. However, some of the songs were down to the effervescent and iconic Stevie Nicks, including the heartbreaking ballad “Silver Springs”.

The track contains lyricism that conveys an autumnal tone and references to the feel of the season, alongside soft, gentle melodies throughout before the final minute, where the crescendo is gripping.

“I would be your shining autumn, ocean crashing/ Don’t say that she’s pretty/ And did she say that she loved you/ Baby I don’t wanna know.” (“Silver Springs”, Fleetwood Mac, Rumours Super Deluxe Version).

It reached fifth on the Billboard US Adult Contemporary Chart, eighteenth on the Canada Adult Contemporary Chart and up to second on the Rock Digital Sales Song Chart, highlighting its credibility.

“Silver Springs” has history, with the song being about the breakdown of the relationship between Nicks and lead guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, who dated between 1972 and 1976. “Go Your Own Way” was written about Buckingham’s take on the breakup.

However, there was tension over “Silver Springs”. Firstly, the song was left out from the original Rumours tracklist before eventually being added to the deluxe version of the album . Secondly, Nicks dated drummer Mick Fleetwood between 1977 and 1979. Twelve years later they had a feud about “Silver Springs” being on an upcoming solo album Nicks was releasing, which made her leave the band from 1991 to 1997.

Despite this, the song remains one of the most influential that Fleetwood Mac have written and is definitely a recommendation for autumn.

 

(7) “Avril 14th” – Aphex Twin (Drukqs)

Over a career spanning thirty-five years to date, Aphex Twin has taken the electronic music industry by storm, with “Avril 14th” being one of his most notable works.

The electronic music artist, whose full name is Richard David James, is famous for genres such as ambient and house, but his album Drukqs – which turns twenty-five next month, highlighting its longevity- showcases a wide range of other talents, such as “Avril 14th”. This is a calming, melodic piano tune that makes you feel like you are going on a cozy walk through the woods on a bitter autumn afternoon, or in front of the fire with a warm drink and your favourite book.

The song doesn’t have any lyrics, but this is a staple of his works, which draws you further into the overall vibe of the track. It clocks in at just over two minutes and was created entirely using a Disklavier – this is a piece of technology which captures the electronic original recording of the track and plays it as a piano piece. Utilising technology this way further reiterates how James is a master of his craft.

The song has been sampled in “The Man Who Ruled The World” by Charles X, an artist who has collaborated with French electronic group Caravan Palace. It has also been used in many famous movie soundtracks, including Marie Antoinette.

 

(6) “Passenger Seat” – Death Cab For Cutie (Transatlanticism) 

Death Cab For Cutie consist of lead vocalist Ben Gibbard, bass guitarist Nick Harmer, guitarists and keyboard players Dave Depper and Zac Rae and drummer Jason McGerr. They have been making music for the last twenty-seven years.

Their debut 1998 album Something About Airplanes gained praise for a melodic approach to rock music, in an era where heavier bands like The Offspring, Green Day and Rage Against The Machine were making their mark on the industry.

“But if you want to hear their sound in chrysalis, you can’t do much better than Airplanes. The album embraces a homespun, basement vibe, but the lyrics prove that Gibbard essentially came out as a perceptive, nuanced writer fully-formed — and with a band that could bring his songs to the light.” (Enos, Billboard, 08/18/18)

However, their 2003 release Transatlanticism contains a track with a very strong autumnal feel. “Passenger Seat” highlights how Death Cab For Cutie can blend introspective lyricism with memorable background acoustics (something they are familiar with, having showcased this on popular tracks such as “Your New Twin Sized Bed” and “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”).

The song opens with a beautiful piano solo before Gibbard paints a picture of an autumn scene, singing of the sensations that can be felt whilst driving through nature, “I roll the window down/ And then begin to breathe in/ The darkest country road/ And the strong scent of evergreen”

(“Passenger Seat”, Death Cab For Cutie, Transatlanticism).

 

(5) “Wake Me Up When September Ends” – Green Day (American Idiot)

Starting with an iconic guitar intro, which slowly builds behind the angelic vocals of Green Day’s lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong before crescendoing into a maelstrom of sound, including drumbeats and shredding of guitars, the rock band’s classic ballad “Wake Me Up When September Ends” has the perfect autumnal tone.

From wordplay that marks the shift into October, when the night falls sooner and the weather becomes increasingly inclement, to the acoustics – which for the first minute and a half remain soft in tone.

This is a record that perfectly emulates that shift of the seasons whilst also containing themes of emotional turmoil and grief. The song’s title came from words Armstrong said to his mother as a child, following the tragic death of his father.

“Summer has come and passed/ The innocent can never last/ Wake me up when September ends” (“Wake Me Up When September Ends”, Green Day, American Idiot).

The song is definitely one of the most emotional on the band’s album American Idiot. That album recently turned twenty-two years old and has proven one of the group’s most popular works, going eight times platinum in sales in England and upon its release, topping the charts in ten different countries including Canada, Austria and Sweden.

 

(4) “We’re Going To Be Friends” – The White Stripes (White Blood Cells)

Jack White was the lead singer of The White Stripes in the 2000s, a band he formed with his former wife Meg (their split saw the band’s dissolution). Known for their gritty, grunge-fuelled rock songs such as the ever popular “Seven Nation Army” and “Fell In Love With A Girl”, the Michigan-based duo won the Brit Award for Best International Group in 2004, multiple Grammy Awards between 2006 and 2008 and were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

Despite the immense popularity of their sound in songs like “Seven Nation Army”, the effortlessly beautiful “We’re Going To Be Friends” is a standout in their discography which perfectly encapsulates autumn

The season traditionally heralds the beginning of a new academic year in September, the peak fall time and the lyrics reflect the joyful feeling of making a new friend, someone who might make you feel less alone. White does this by cleverly referencing key moments of primary school days whilst also bringing autumn-themed wordplay into the mix.

“Fall is here, hear the yell/ Back to school, ring the bell/ Brand new shoes, walking blues/ Climb the fence, books and pens/ I can tell that we are going to be friends…Back to class, through the hall/ Teacher marks our height against the wall” (“We’re Going To Be Friends”, The White Stripes, White Blood Cells).

The track has had an impact on pop culture, having been used in the opening credits of cult classic comedy film Napoleon Dynamite.

 

(3) “Towers” – Bon Iver (Bon Iver, Bon Iver)

Bon Iver’s lead singer Justin Vernon has a falsetto tone that has made him one of the most recognisable and influential artists in indie-rock and the cozy, autumn-like “Towers” is no exception.  The song features on Bon Iver, Bon Iver, the second album which was released in 2011. The album won the group a Grammy Award in 2012 for Best Alternative Music Album.

The band initially began as a solo project but soon this changed and the lineup now consists of Vernon, drummers Matthew McCaughan and Sean Carey (the former is also the bass guitarist), baritone guitarist, saxophonist and violinist Michael Lewis and guitarists Andrew Fitzpatrick and Jenn Wasner. Fitzpatrick, Wasner and Carey are also keyboardists.

“Towers” is a poignant love song about falling in love during the phase between summer and autumn and how the relationship plays out, with lyrics that reflect these themes. The song also gives a strong autumnal feel with its folk-inspired acoustics.

“For the love, I’d fallen on/ In the swampy August dawn” (“Towers”, Bon Iver, Bon Iver, Bon Iver).

 

(2) “Lullaby” – The Cure (Disintegration)

This song goes much deeper into the autumnal season but is still a fantastic inclusion. The Cure’s “Lullaby” is a fantastic track for cold October evenings, especially in the run up to Halloween, which many see as the last few days before winter.

With eerie gothic tones and haunting vocals courtesy of the band’s elegant lead singer Robert Smith, “Lullaby” is a standout in the discography of the band from West Sussex and a great addition to their fantastic 1989 album Disintegration.

“On candy stripe legs/ The Spiderman comes/ Softly through the shadow of the evening sun” (“Lullaby”, The Cure, Disintegration).

The song’s creepy tones are matched with a music video that won a Brit Award for Best Video of The Year. It was created to emulate the works of David Lynch, particularly Eraserhead. Lynch was a famous film director famed for his work with horror films and he also created surreal television shows such as Twin Peaks.

Eraserhead is particularly special in the music scene as the theme tune “In Heaven (Everything Is Fine)” is used as the walkout song for Pixies at their concerts.

To make their video as harrowing as Lynch’s works, The Cure worked with director Tim Pope, who has also filmed music videos for other tracks and created footage of their concert tours. He also worked with David Bowie and Siouxsie and The Banshees

 

1 – ” The Lion’s Roar” – First Aid Kit  (The Lion’s Roar)

Swedish duo First Aid Kit are known for their comforting folk tunes. Consisting of sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg, they have been nominated three times for a Brit Award for Best International Group and they won four awards at the 2012 Grammis (the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Award) – Songwriter of The Year, Artist of The Year, Best Pop of The Year and Album of The Year.

“The Lion’s Roar” is the title track from their 2012 album, which was produced by Mike Mogis, who has worked with artists including Rilo Kiley and Phoebe Bridgers. It is a ballad that clocks in at just over five minutes and contains the perfect blend of creative lyrics and harmonies, which creates a sense of walking through a forest or woodland on an autumn afternoon and immersing yourself in nature, whilst also playing into themes of lost love and desire.

“And every once in a while, I’d sing a song for you/ That would rise above the mountains and the stars and the sea/ And if I wanted it to it would lead you back to me” (“The Lion’s Roar”, First Aid Kit, The Lion’s Roar).

The song was highly praised by NPR in a premiere, for the multitude of acoustics and the angelic shared vocals from the duo.

“With its soaring flutes and layered harmonies, “The Lion’s Roar” conjures the pastoral, almost Andean sound of Fleet Foxes’ “Your Protector.” Stomping drums and a strummed acoustic guitar bring welcome fire to the mix. However, it’s the Söderberg sisters’ soulful vocal harmonies — especially during a short but haunting a cappella interlude — that set First Aid Kit apart.” (Flynn, NPR, 10/11/11).

Overall it is a fantastic song and it perfectly captures the cozy feeling of autumn, which makes it a definite addition to the list.

 

Nowadays, there are a lot of songs that have autumnal feels, references to autumn itself and lyrics that might make you visualise the time of year. As we are now in that season, there’s no better time than to listen to some cozy, calming songs whilst finding a way to relax, such as with a hot drink.